Attorney General Ken Paxton has claimed a significant legal victory over the Biden-Harris Administration following a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The dispute centered on a rule that required health entities to provide contraceptives to minors without parental consent, conflicting with Texas state laws.
In July 2024, Paxton initiated legal action against HHS, arguing that federal funds under Title X of the Public Health Service Act were being conditioned on this requirement. According to Paxton, this violated state laws protecting parental rights regarding their children's medical care. Multiple courts had previously ruled that Title X projects must adhere to Texas's parental consent laws when distributing prescription contraceptives to minors.
The Biden Administration has now agreed not to enforce this regulation in Texas. This decision effectively nullifies the contested rule within the state, leading Attorney General Paxton to file a notice of dismissal. As a result, Texas health entities will not be compelled to breach state law under the threat of losing Title X funding.
"The Biden-Harris Administration threatened to withhold taxpayer money to coerce healthcare providers into violating state law and providing contraceptives to children without any parental oversight," stated Attorney General Paxton. "We won a complete and total victory, forcing the outgoing administration to abandon its illegal agenda."