Texas Senators have passed the Women’s Privacy Act, a measure aimed at restricting access to bathrooms, locker rooms, and women’s shelters based on biological sex.
On Wednesday, State Sen. Mayes Middleton (R–Galveston) motioned to suspend the rules and move Senate Bill 7 to a third and final vote.
The Women’s Privacy Act is enforceable in all state agencies, school districts, prisons, public colleges, and women’s abuse shelters.
The measure requires prison inmates to be housed according to biological sex and mandates that women’s shelters only serve biological females and their children.
Individuals found in violation of the law could face civil penalties of up to $5,000 for the first infraction and $25,000 for subsequent offenses.
The measure also contains a mechanism for individuals to report political subdivisions to the attorney general’s office if provisions are not enforced.
“This is common sense,” said Middleton. “It protects women and children in private spaces like bathrooms, locker rooms, showers, [and] family violence shelters that are dedicated to women.”
“This bill helps restore those sex-based boundaries that we have had for generations and are based on basic biological and biblical truths,” he added.
The measure passed 19-2, despite Texas Democrats—with the exception of State Sens. Juan Hinojosa and Judith Zaffrini, who voted against the bill—skipping proceedings to protest Republican-led congressional redistricting.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick celebrated the bill’s passage, stating, “The Texas Senate will continue passing this bill each legislative session to protect women and girls until House Democrats return from their ‘vacation’ and get back to work for the people of Texas.”
With Texas House Democrats currently breaking quorum, the bill’s future is uncertain.
The House is scheduled to meet again Friday at 1pm.
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