Texas lawmakers are gearing up for a special session next week. They will review important legislation, including aid for areas hit hard by flooding and rules about restroom usage for transgender Texans.
Originally, Governor Greg Abbott called this session in June to revisit six bills he had vetoed. One of these bills aimed to ban THC in hemp products. But everything changed when devastating floods struck central Texas on July 4. The floods caused at least 120 deaths, leaving many others missing. This tragedy shifted the focus to immediate flood relief.
However, the governor’s recent agenda for the special session includes much more than just flood-related measures. Alongside relief efforts, Abbott has proposed bills focused on protecting “unborn children” and ensuring women’s privacy in designated spaces.
On the first day for bill filings, there were no proposals addressing the recent floods, according to KXAN-TV. Instead, Republican state Rep. Valoree Swanson introduced a bill that would require transgender individuals to use restrooms that match their birth sex in public places like schools and government buildings. If House Bill 32, known as the Texas Women’s Privacy Act, passes, entities violating it could face serious penalties.
Currently, 19 states in the U.S. have similar restrictions on restroom usage based on gender assigned at birth, as noted by the Movement Advancement Project.
The last legislative session in Texas, which wrapped up on June 2, saw 88 anti-LGBTQ bills proposed, with four becoming law. Among these were measures banning diversity and inclusion programs in schools and redefining gender strictly based on reproductive organs.
These ongoing political debates reflect a larger trend in the U.S. Despite the push for more rights, many states are implementing stricter laws, sparking ongoing discussions about equality and inclusivity. Understanding these issues is vital as they continue to evolve in Texas and beyond.
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