![\"Demonstrators](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1773561447_861_.webp\")
Demonstrators hold signs in support of transgender youth and rights at the Rally for Trans Youth at the Texas State Capitol in March 2022. (Gabriel C. P\u00e9rez | KUT News)<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\tDemonstrators hold signs in support of transgender youth and rights at the Rally for Trans Youth at the Texas State Capitol in March 2022. (Gabriel C. P\u00e9rez | KUT News)<\/p>\n
The Texas Supreme Court ruled<\/a> Friday that the Texas Attorney General\u2019s Office can require LGBTQ advocacy group PFLAG to turn over documents related to an investigation into medical care for transgender minors.<\/p>\n The court overturned a previous district court decision that had largely blocked the AG\u2019s office from seeking certain records.<\/p>\n The dispute stems from a civil investigative demand issued in 2024 by Texas AG Ken Paxton. His office is investigating whether medical providers may have violated state law by misleading insurers about treatments provided to transgender minors.<\/p>\n How the case began<\/p>\n The Attorney General\u2019s office began seeking records after PFLAG submitted an affidavit in an ill-fated lawsuit challenging the state\u2019s 2023 law <\/a>banning certain gender-affirming medical treatments for minors, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy.<\/p>\n In that filing, the group\u2019s executive director said families with transgender adolescents were discussing \u201ccontingency plans\u201d and \u201calternative avenues to maintain care in Texas.\u201d<\/p>\n State investigators argued those comments suggested the group might have information about doctors continuing to provide treatments banned under Texas law and requested related records from PFLAG.<\/p>\n PFLAG sued to block the request<\/a> in February 2024. A Travis County judge initially sided with the group<\/a> and limited what records PFLAG had to provide. The attorney general\u2019s office appealed directly to the state\u2019s highest civil court.<\/p>\n What the court decided <\/p>\n In Friday\u2019s ruling<\/a>, the Texas Supreme Court said the lower court improperly interfered with the state\u2019s investigation, emphasizing that under state law<\/a>, the AG doesn\u2019t have to prove someone has relevant documents before requesting them.<\/p>\n \u201cThe district court should not have faulted the Attorney General\u2019s office for failing to \u2018produce evidence to suggest that PFLAG likely possessed information relevant to the OAG\u2019s investigation.\u2019 That was not the Attorney General\u2019s burden,\u201d the ruling read. \u201cUnder the statute\u2019s plain text, belief \u2014 not proof \u2014 will suffice.\u201d<\/p>\n The court said PFLAG must turn over several categories of documents, including:<\/p>\n Communications about \u201ccontingency plans\u201d or alternative care options However, the court said some other requests \u2014 including certain internal organizational documents \u2014 weren\u2019t clearly relevant and don\u2019t have to be handed over.<\/p>\n
\nReferrals or lists of health care providers for transgender youth in Texas
\nCommunications involving certain health care providers referenced in the investigation
\nRecords tied to the executive director\u2019s comments in the lawsuit affidavit about families seeking ways to maintain care in Texas<\/p>\n