Texas Senate Passes Bill on Definition of Woman: 'Reality and Truth'
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
The Texas Senate passed a bill requiring the state to adhere to a biological definition of men and women, a move campaigners welcomed as a win for "truth and reality" and one that protects single sex spaces.
But advocates for LGBTQ rights said the bill is harmful to the lives of trans people, who will face greater marginalization and discrimination as a result.
Called the "Women's Bill of Rights," Texas senators passed HB 229 by 20 votes to 11, sending the bill to Gov. Greg Abbott for his signature.
"The message is clear: You don't mess with Texas women," said M. E. Castle, director of government relations for Texas Values, a Christian advocacy group, in a statement posted to X.
"HB 229 makes sure that the reality and truth of the two sexes is clear in Texas law and never altered by school districts, local cities, or bureaucrats ever again!
"With today's vote in the Senate, Texas will lay the foundation for protecting women's spaces and opportunities."
This is a developing article and more information will be added soon.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hill
16 minutes ago
- The Hill
Huizenga passes on Michigan Senate run
Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.) said on Wednesday he was passing on a Senate run in the Great Lakes State after Republicans had voiced concerns of a primary between the congressman and former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.). 'After careful consideration with Natalie and my family, as well as in consultation with President Trump, I have decided against a bid for U.S. Senate in Michigan,' Huizenga said in a statement. 'I am proud of our effort and am grateful for the outpouring of support and encouragement I received from Michiganders across our great state,' he continued. However, Huizenga was not definitive on what his next move would be, saying he looks forward to announcing his 'future plans' later this year. If he had decided on a Senate bid, Huizenga would have faced off against Rogers, an establishment favorite, who came within less than a point of defeating Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) in last year's competitive Senate race. Rogers received the backing of Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-N.D.) and National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair Tim Scott (R-S.C.) following his 2026 campaign launch in April. Last week, Rogers' campaign said he raised over $1.5 million in the second quarter of 2025. Unlike Republicans, Michigan Democrats are facing a contentious primary battle between establishment favorite Haley Stevens (D-Mich.), state Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D), and former progressive gubernatorial candidate Abdul El-Sayed.
Newsweek
17 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Triple Murderer Among Americans Repatriated From Venezuela in Prisoner Swap
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Trump administration has long insisted that America should not be a haven for criminals. Last week, it brought one home. Dahud Hanid Ortiz — a Venezuelan-born American citizen and former U.S. Marine convicted of a brutal triple murder in Spain — was among 10 Americans repatriated from Venezuela in a high-profile prisoner exchange between the White House and the South American government. Ortiz was sentenced to 30 years in prison for the triple homicide that took place in Madrid in 2016, according to Venezuelan court documents and Spanish media, which also reported that Spain had sought his extradition. However, the Venezuelan Constitution bans the extradition of its citizens, so he was tried in Venezuela, which allows prosecutions for crimes committed abroad. Why It Matters Venezuela on Friday released 10 jailed U.S. citizens and permanent residents in exchange for the return of dozens of Venezuelan migrants who had been deported in March by the United States to El Salvador under the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, officials said. Venezuela on Friday released 10 jailed U.S. citizens and permanent residents in exchange for getting home scores of migrants deported by the United States to El Salvador months ago under the Trump administration's immigration crackdown,... Venezuela on Friday released 10 jailed U.S. citizens and permanent residents in exchange for getting home scores of migrants deported by the United States to El Salvador months ago under the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, officials said. More U.S. State Department The Venezuelans had been held in the Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT — a massive prison built to detain alleged gang members as part of President Bukele's war on gangs. Trump had invoked the 18th-century Alien Enemies Act, a wartime law, to swiftly deport the men, accusing them of ties to the violent Tren de Aragua street gang. However, the administration did not provide evidence to back up those claims. What To Know In a bitter irony, while the Trump administration has championed the deportation of migrants accused of minor crimes and condemned countries for sheltering fugitives, it repatriated Ortiz as part of a deal it billed as a humanitarian breakthrough. "We delivered murderers for you," Venezuelan minister Diosdado Cabello told the deportees aboard their flight home. "They were in hell. Today they are in Venezuela." Spanish media reports first identified one of the men as Ortiz, 51, as a fugitive wanted in Spain for one of Madrid's most shocking crimes in recent memory — the murders of two Cuban women and an Ecuadorian man in a law office. Investigators say Ortiz, driven by jealousy over his ex-partner, stalked her and her new boyfriend, hacked her devices, and planted microphones before traveling to Madrid and killing three innocent people he mistakenly thought were connected to her. A State Department photo shows some of the 10 Americans freed from Venezuela returning to the U.S. this month. Dahud Hanid Ortiz is at center right, holding a small flag. A State Department photo shows some of the 10 Americans freed from Venezuela returning to the U.S. this month. Dahud Hanid Ortiz is at center right, holding a small flag. U.S. State Department According to a 2021 report of Infobae, Ortiz used a combat knife and an iron bar to stab and bludgeon lawyer Elisa Consuegra Gálvez, secretary Maritza Osorio Riverón, and client John Pepe Castillo Vega, then set the office on fire and left fake cartel calling cards to mislead investigators. After fleeing to Germany and then to Venezuela, he lived under false names until his 2018 arrest by Venezuelan intelligence agents. Venezuelan authorities initially believed Ortiz was an American spy and tortured him before acknowledging Spain's extradition request, El País reported. The Venezuelan Supreme Court denied extradition in 2019, promising he would face trial locally — a trial that never happened. The Trump administration has not clarified how Ortiz came to be listed as a "wrongfully detained" American. When Newsweek reached out to the State Department for comment on Wednesday morning, a spokesperson declined to comment on the specific case of Ortiz: "We were able to secure the release of all Americans detained in Venezuela; many of whom reported being subjected to torture and other harsh conditions." A Troubled Past Dahud Hanid Ortiz was born in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, in 1970 but later renounced his Venezuelan citizenship to become an American and eventually also acquired German nationality, Infobae reported. He served in the Marines, deploying to Iraq and Korea, and was awarded the Purple Heart before being dishonorably discharged in 2011 for falsifying documents, fraud and theft to obtain benefits and promotions. Fluent in Spanish, English, German and Russian, Ortiz settled in Germany after his discharge and began a relationship with German doctor Irina Trippel. But his behavior became increasingly controlling and abusive, according to Spanish investigators. When Trippel left him for Peruvian attorney Víctor Salas, Ortiz stalked her obsessively, hacked her phone and computer, and even planted listening devices in her home, Spanish media reported. His fixation escalated until he traveled to Madrid in June 2016 and murdered three people in what investigators called a meticulously planned but tragically misdirected act of vengeance. What People Are Saying U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote on X about the prisoner exchange: "Thanks to POTUS's leadership, ten Americans who were detained in Venezuela are on their way to freedom. I want to thank my team at the State Department & especially President Nayib Bukele for helping secure an agreement for the release of all of our American detainees, plus the release of Venezuelan political prisoners." The Venezuelan government, in a statement on Friday afternoon: "Venezuela has paid a high price to secure the freedom of these compatriots, through an exchange with the authorities of the United States of America of a group of U.S. citizens who were at the disposal of the justice system, for their proven involvement in serious crimes against the peace, independence, and security of the Nation." What Happens Next According to El País, there are suspicions that Ortiz falsified evidence to present himself not as a murderer, but as a political prisoner or a U.S. spy, in order to be included in the prisoner exchange.
Newsweek
17 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Map Shows States That Could Redraw Congressional Districts Before Midterms
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A redistricting arms war sparked by Texas Republicans' efforts to redraw the state's Congressional maps, supported by President Donald Trump, could reshape the 2026 midterms. Newsweek reached out to the DCCC and NRCC for comment via email. Why It Matters As the 2026 midterms approach, redistricting could play a major role in whether Republicans are able to keep their majority, or minimize their losses, in the House. Historically, the party in the White House loses seats in the midterms, and Democrats are optimistic about their chances as President Donald Trump's approval rating continues to drop in recent polls. In Trump's first midterms, in 2018, Democrats made a net gain of 40 seats, surging to a majority. Republicans currently have a narrow 219-212 majority in the House with four seats vacant heading into 2026. What To Know Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott called a special session to, in part, address calls for a redrawing of maps to thwart potential Democratic gains in the midterms. Other GOP-led states have joined Texas in proposing to redraw their maps, hoping it could result in lost seats for Democrats next November. The moves have fueled calls for Democratic-run states to counter by redrawing their own maps. However, a number of states have legal restrictions that would make mid-decade redistricting a challenge. Typically, redistricting happens once every 10 years following the census to adjust boundaries based on population changes. Mid-decade redistricting does happen from time-to-time, however, usually following legal challenges against maps accused of being gerrymandered. States like Florida and Virginia have seen this sort of redistricting in the last decade. Texas Republicans are likely to eye seats held by Democratic Representatives Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez in South Texas, both of which were won by Trump last November. The region has quickly moved to the right over the past decade, turning these former Democratic strongholds into possible red turf. Suburban seats in Dallas and Houston could also be considered during the redraw. Representative Lizzie Fletcher, a Houston Democrat whose districted could be targeted, described the efforts as "disrespectful to citizens" and a "betrayal of our democratic principle that all citizens should have a say in our government." Ohio is another red state that has said it is considering redrawing its boundaries. Democrats in competitive seats, such as Representative Marcy Kaptur, whose Trump-won district includes Toledo, and Emilia Sykes, who represents Akron, would be the most vulnerable. That redraw would come after the state Supreme Court ruled in 2022 that the current state map is unconstitutional. Last November, Ohio voters rejected a plan that would have established a citizen commission instead of allowing lawmakers to draw maps, meaning Democrats have little say in how the new maps can be redrawn. How Democrats Plan to Counter Texas GOP Redraw California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom responded to Texas' plans by suggesting his state could also redraw its map to give Democrats more advantages. But California has an independent redistricting commission, so any attempts at a mid-decade redraw could face legal challenges. California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks in Florence, South Carolina, on July 8, 2025. California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks in Florence, South Carolina, on July 8, Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, previously raised legal concerns about the redistricting plan to Newsweek, saying that it "has to go through a ballot measure." Maryland House Majority Leader David Moon announced on X he is "introducing legislation to redraw Maryland congressional districts if any other state cheats & draws new maps outside of the census period." Democrats hold all but one of Maryland's eight districts and could target GOP Representative Andy Harris. Meanwhile, Democratic New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy is also not ruling out a redraw, but mid-decade redistricting is not legal in the state, so any effort to do so would require a change to that law. CNN reported that Democrats are also eyeing states like New York and Washington as states that could redraw their maps, but it's not clear Democrats in those states have the political appetite or legal ability to do so. There are also legal challenges against current boundaries in Georgia, South Carolina and Utah, where Democrats have raised gerrymandering arguments. In Georgia, critics have argued that the current map diluted the power of Black voters, and the case is being appealed. A similar argument was made in South Carolina over the state's 1st Congressional District which includes parts of Charleston and is represented by GOP Representative Nancy Mace. The state Supreme Court has heard arguments in this case. Democrats are also hoping for a positive outcome in Utah that would create a Democratic seat in Salt Lake City, as Republicans hold each of the state's four districts. What People Are Saying Democratic Representative Ro Khanna previously told Newsweek: "The governor, none of us, have that power. It's for the voters to decide, and the voters have an independent commission. What we need to do is make sure that we challenge what Texas is doing as unconstitutional. It's a violation of the Voting Rights Act. It's a violation of people having a fair vote, and it's gerrymandering districts." Democratic Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin told Axios: "If they're going to go nuclear in Texas, I'm going to go nuclear in other places. I'm not going to fight with one arm tied behind my back. I don't want to do that, but if they're proposing to rig the game, we're going to get in that game and fight." President Donald Trump told reporters earlier in July: "No, no. just a very simple redrawing. We pick up five seats. But we have a couple of other states where we will pick up seats also." What Happens Next Democrats are considering the best way to respond to Texas' redistricting plan as pressure grows from lawmakers to find a counter. Exact details on how the Texas map may change remains unclear at this point.
