H.B. No. 5373 is a legislative bill aimed at prohibiting caste-based discrimination in Texas, ensuring equal protections under state law. The bill recognizes the harmful impact of caste discrimination on individuals and communities, affirming Texas's commitment to equality and protection against all forms of discrimination. It specifically addresses discrimination in hiring, workplaces, educational institutions, and housing, thereby broadening the scope of protected categories to include "caste" and "ancestry."

To implement these protections, the bill amends various sections of the Labor and Property Codes, adding definitions for "caste" and "ancestry" and including them as prohibited bases for discrimination alongside race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, and age. Notably, it removes age as a protected category in certain contexts while adding caste and ancestry. The bill also establishes that educational institutions and housing providers cannot discriminate based on these newly included categories. The provisions of this act are set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Labor Code 2.01, Labor Code 2.02, Labor Code 2.03, Labor Code 2.04, Labor Code 2.05, Labor Code 2.06, Education Code 3.01, Property Code 4.01, Property Code 4.02, Property Code 4.03, Property Code 4.04, Property Code 4.05, Property Code 4.06, Property Code 4.07 (Education Code 3, Property Code 4, Labor Code 2)