The Texas Tribune reports:
The Texas Senate on Tuesday tentatively signed off on the so-called “bathroom bill” on a 21-10 vote. Senate Bill 6, a legislative priority of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, would require transgender people to use bathrooms in public schools, government buildings and other publicly-owned facilities that match their “biological sex” and not gender identity. And it would preempt local anti-discrimination laws meant to allow transgender residents to use public bathrooms that match their gender identity.
The floor vote came a week after a marathon hearing during which senators heard 13-plus hours of public testimony from hundreds of individuals, largely in opposition, before advancing the legislation to the full Senate. The upper chamber must still give the legislation a final stamp of approval before sending it on to the House. That vote, known as “third reading,” could come as early as Wednesday.
Legislating Access to Public Facilities in Tx by views of Bible (Feb '17). More: https://t.co/EkkPtrLK54 via @TxPolProject #txlege #sb6 pic.twitter.com/olgtTju94J
— Jim Henson (@jamesrhenson) March 14, 2017
#SB6 passes #Texas Senate 21-10 w/one Dem supporting, to #protectprivacy in bathrooms, showers and locker rooms. Congrats @loiskolkhorst pic.twitter.com/AkoMdwW8d0
— Jonathan Saenz (@jonathansaenzTX) March 14, 2017
Protesters against #sb6 stand silently outside Senate chamber after vote, many holding photos of killed transgender Texans #txlege pic.twitter.com/b32FX9J5Lx
— Chuck Lindell (@chucklindell) March 14, 2017