AUSTIN, Texas — Texas will begin enforcing Senate Bill 8 on Thursday, a new state law that restricts the use of multi-stall restrooms, locker rooms, and other gender-segregated facilities in public buildings based on sex assigned at birth. The measure, commonly referred to as a “bathroom bill,” follows more than a decade of Republican efforts to pass statewide restrictions on transgender Texans’ access to public facilities.
SB 8 applies to restrooms and changing areas in public schools, charter schools, state agency buildings, county and city facilities, and public universities. Private businesses, including restaurants and shops, are not subject to the law and may set their own policies. The law also provides exemptions for emergency responders, custodial workers, law enforcement, and adults accompanying children nine or younger.
The bill expands beyond restrooms, requiring the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to house inmates based on sex assigned at birth — a policy the agency says it already follows for roughly 1,750 transgender inmates. It also restricts certain family-violence shelters from serving transgender women, though advocates say federal grant rules may exempt most shelters from the requirement.
SB 8 instructs institutions to take “every reasonable step” to ensure compliance but offers no specific enforcement rules, raising concerns about potential ID checks or intrusive monitoring. Individuals are not penalized directly; instead, institutions face fines starting at $25,000 for violations, with penalties rising to $125,000 per day for repeated infractions.
Critics say unclear guidance could fuel harassment and discrimination, while supporters argue the law establishes clearer boundaries for public facilities.
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Sources:
• News From the States – MBFC Rating
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