A top priority for the ongoing Texas special session is legislation designed to protect women's and girls' private spaces, according to Mary Elizabeth Castle of Texas Values. She says Rep. Valorie Swanson announced there are more than enough supporters to pass the bill.
The Texas Women’s Privacy Act ensures that women are safe in locker rooms, showers, dressing rooms, restrooms, and domestic abuse shelters.
Senator Mayes Middleton and Senator Lois Kolkhorst are authors of the identical version of the Texas Women’s Privacy Act (SB 7) in the state senate.
"Representative Valerie Swanson announced that she has over 80 co-authors or signatures onto her bill, and that means she has more than enough votes in order for it to pass in the Texas House. So there really is good confidence that this can be passed in the special session,” Castle said.
Nonetheless, she says there are those who are opposed to such legislation.
"Many of them claim that they just want to be able to use the bathroom, but it's very clear that we have that ability for everyone to use the bathroom. We just have everyone use the bathroom based on their biological sex."
Lt. Governor Dan Patrick prioritized protecting women's privacy and assigned it as Senate Bill 7 in his list of top issues to pass in the special session, which is expected to end Aug. 19 or 20.
