A bill proposed in the Texas legislature could charge transgender Texans with a felony if they commit what proponents call “gender identity fraud.”

The measure would make it a state felony for a person not to identify by their sex at birth when dealing with an employer or governmental entity. Activists say if the bill becomes law, it would prevent trans people from applying for jobs and receiving state benefits.

AUSTIN — A Texas Republican has filed a bill that would criminalize transgender people who mislead the government or an employer by stating their gender identity as their biological sex.

The bill, while unlikely to pass, highlights the increasing extremism of legislation targeting trans people, especially in Texas, in recent years.

Transgender Texans could be charged with fraud under state legislation filed this month that seeks to make publicly identifying as trans illegal. House Bill 3817, introduced last week by

A Texas bill proposes jail time for trans people who list their gender identity instead of birth sex on official documents. Critics call it extreme.

The Texas state legislature may soon consider whether transgender Texans can be charged with a felony for identifying as their preferred gender.