SALEM, Ore., Oregon’s Capitol has unveiled what experts say is the largest set of gender-neutral, multi-stall bathrooms in any state legislature, part of a decade-long, $598 million renovation designed to improve accessibility, safety, and space efficiency. The two new first-floor restroom halls, located just off the rotunda, feature 16 “all-user” stalls alongside mirrors, sinks, and bright shared common areas. The additions are not replacing existing single-sex or single-stall options, which remain available for those who prefer them.
Project director Jodie Jones said maximizing usable restroom space made gender-neutral design the most practical solution, noting that dividing stalls by sex, accessibility needs, and changing-table requirements would have reduced capacity. Oregon, long a leader on LGBTQ+ protections, already requires agencies to provide gender-neutral options when possible, though the Capitol expansion was driven primarily by building-code modernization rather than politics.
Experts say the change could dramatically reduce wait times for women, citing a Ghent University study showing gender-neutral setups cut average waits from over six minutes to about ninety seconds. Advocates also highlight benefits for caregivers, parents, and people with disabilities.
The move comes amid heated national debates over restroom access, with more than a dozen Republican-led states enacting restrictions. Yet in Oregon, lawmakers from both parties have so far avoided criticism or praise, an unusual moment of quiet consensus. Even Rep. Ed Diehl, a conservative who backed school bathroom restrictions, said he found the Capitol redesign practical. “All-user restroom — I’m fine with that,” he said.
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