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Senate passes bill defining access to sex-segregated spaces; critics warn of legal and safety risks
Summary
The Texas Senate approved Senate Bill 8, which ties access to certain spaces and facilities to biological sex and creates a private right of action with civil penalties; opponents said the measure risks federal funding, privacy, and safety and could prompt litigation.
The Texas Senate passed Senate Bill 8 on third reading, voting 19-11 to approve a measure that ties access to specified spaces and facilities to a person’s biological sex and creates a private enforcement mechanism with civil penalties.
Senator Middleton moved final passage and described the bill as protecting "safety and privacy" for “the daughters of our great state.” Opponents on the floor, including Senator Zaffrani, urged a no vote, saying the bill "raises serious concerns about protecting the rights and dignity of every Texan" and warning it could produce conflicts with federal anti-discrimination…
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