Committee approves bill requiring sex-segregated multi-occupant restroom, changing and shower facilities in residential education programs

The House Committee on Education approved House Bill 64 after debate and public testimony on whether multi-occupant restrooms, changing areas and showers in residential educational programs that house minors should be segregated by biological sex.

Representative Bolso, sponsor of the bill, described a constituent’s complaint about a summer residential program in which a biological male identifying as female had access to shared facilities. The sponsor said the bill is intended to "protect the privacy and security of young ladies" by requiring that multi-occupant facilities in programs involving minors be segregated by biological sex.

Opponents included a nurse and mother, Eva Frasca, who said she opposed the bill and warned it would "legislate and legitimize hate" against transgender and nonbinary youth. "What this bill does is legislate and legitimize hate instead of showing love to kids who so desperately need it," Frasca said during her testimony.

Committee members asked how the bill would affect state residential institutions such as the Tennessee School for the Deaf and other facilities that use dormitories, single-user restrooms or mixed facilities. The sponsor said the bill targets multi-occupant facilities and would not affect single-user restrooms; dormitory and campus configurations with multi-occupant bathrooms would need to comply.

After discussion the committee adopted an amendment (amendment 4021) and recorded a roll-call vote of 13 ayes and 3 nays; the measure was reported as moving to calendar and rules. Committee members' remarks and public testimony reflected sharply differing views on privacy, safety and the rights of transgender students.

The committee’s action advances the bill for further consideration; the record does not show implementation details such as funding or timelines for facility changes.