H.B. No. 170 introduces Chapter 101A to the Business & Commerce Code, establishing regulations against discrimination in public accommodations in Texas. The bill defines key terms such as "discriminatory practice," "public accommodation," "gender identity," and "sexual orientation," and prohibits discriminatory actions based on various categories, including race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, and military veteran status. It exempts certain establishments, like private clubs and religious organizations not open to the public, from these regulations. The bill also outlines a complaint process, empowering the Texas Workforce Commission to investigate and resolve complaints, and allows for temporary injunctive relief in urgent cases.

Additionally, the bill amends the Labor Code and Property Code to expand definitions and protections against discrimination in employment and housing, explicitly including sexual orientation, gender identity, and military veteran status. It removes previous exclusions of age and disability in certain contexts and establishes a new subchapter on judicial enforcement, allowing civil actions against discriminatory practices. The bill emphasizes expedited legal processes and the potential for compensatory and punitive damages, ensuring individuals facing discrimination have clear avenues for recourse. Importantly, the changes will apply only to conduct occurring on or after the effective date of September 1, 2025, maintaining the validity of prior laws for actions and complaints that occurred or were filed before this date.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Labor Code 21.002, Labor Code 21.005, Labor Code 21.051, Labor Code 21.052, Labor Code 21.053, Labor Code 21.054, Labor Code 21.059, Labor Code 21.102, Labor Code 21.112, Labor Code 21.113, Labor Code 21.120, Labor Code 21.122, Labor Code 21.124, Labor Code 21.125, Labor Code 21.126, Labor Code 21.152, Labor Code 21.155, Property Code 301.003, Property Code 301.021, Property Code 301.022, Property Code 301.023, Property Code 301.024, Property Code 301.026, Property Code 301.027, Property Code 301.042, Property Code 301.068, Property Code 301.171 (Property Code 301, Labor Code 21)