The Texas House on Thursday passed, the so-called 鈥渂athroom bill鈥� that would restrict access to public restrooms for transgender people. The measure now just needs a final nod from the Senate before it heads to Gov. Greg Abbott鈥檚 desk.
The bill would require people in public schools, universities, government buildings, prisons and jails to use restrooms and locker rooms that match the sex listed on their birth certificate, not their gender identity. It allows single-occupancy, gender-neutral facilities as an alternative and includes exceptions for custodial staff, law enforcement, medical workers and for children under 10 accompanied by an adult.
Facilities that fail to comply could be fined $25,000 for a first offense and up to $125,000 for repeat violations. The attorney general鈥檚 office could also investigate complaints filed by private citizens.
On Thursday, Rep. Angelia Orr (R-Itasca) said SB 8 鈥渆nsures people can use restrooms, changing facilities and other shared spaces in confidence that they will not encounter a person of the opposite sex.鈥�
鈥淲hen it comes to the dignity, privacy and safety of Texas women and girls 鈥� there is no compromise,鈥� Orr said. 鈥淭his is completely non-negotiable.鈥�
But LGBTQ+ advocates and civil rights groups have called SB 8 discriminatory and harmful. on Thursday in protest. That energy was matched by several House Democrats who spoke against the measure, including Rep. Jessica Gonz谩lez of Dallas, who argued SB 8 provides no safeguards against misuse.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e giving a private cause of action to folks,鈥� Gonz谩lez said. 鈥淏asically, a vigilante potty police.鈥�
Democrats put forth a total of 13 amendments Thursday attempting to revise the bill鈥檚 language, including a ban on requiring IDs to use public restrooms, but all were rejected. One more amendment was proposed, this time by Republican Rep. Steve Toth of Conroe, to drastically increase penalty fines. This amendment was adopted.
Ultimately, after hours of debate, SB 8 passed Thursday with . The amended bill now returns to the Senate for approval before going to Gov. Abbott, who on social media Thursday night.
Last session:
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX)
鉁旓笍 no men in women鈥檚 sports
This session:
鉁旓笍 no men in women鈥檚 restrooms
The measure cleared the Senate last week and quickly gained traction in the House, advancing out of committee after marked by emotional testimony and outbursts. LGBTQ+ advocates, parents and students lined up to argue the bill would endanger transgender Texans and invite harassment, while supporters insisted the measure protects privacy.
Thursday鈥檚 debate was also intense; House Speaker Dustin Burrows cleared the gallery after protesters shouted 鈥渟hame鈥� and 鈥測ou鈥檙e here to work for the people.鈥�
If Abbott signs SB 8, it鈥檒l join impacting trans residents. Earlier this year, Abbott approved , which defined male and female for state purposes, mirroring a January that established the same binary at the federal level.
Texas would join nearly 20 states that have on restroom access for transgender people, some tied up in court. In South Carolina, officials have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to let the state enforce using restrooms that match their gender identity.
