A proposed Texas law would bar transgender people from using bathrooms in publicly funded institutions, including schools and airports. ACLU policy strategist Ash Hall testified in opposition, warning the measure encourages cruelty, frivolous lawsuits, and gender policing. Governor Greg Abbott called a second special legislative session minutes after the first adjourned so the bill could be reintroduced. Lt. Governor Dan Patrick suspended normal notice rules to allow same-day committee hearings. SB 8 passed the state senate on August 19, while companion House bills 52 and 214 await votes after Democratic representatives returned to restore quorum.
"The Senators filed bills, the bills got referred to committees, and then the Senate State Affairs Committee held a hearing on the bathroom ban (now under the new bill number SB 8)-all within a single day," said a state-based civil rights group, Equality Texas, in an email blast. "This is not normal [...] The rules state they must give the public 24 hours' notice before a hearing. However, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick suspended the rules so committee hearings could begin immediately."
"Obviously, I've already talked to y'all about this before," they said.
Collection
[
|
...
]