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House approves bill limiting multi‑stall public restrooms in government buildings after heated debate
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Summary
The Puerto Rico House of Representatives approved Project House 165, a measure that restricts multi‑stall “inclusive” restrooms in public agencies and requires single‑stall or sex‑segregated facilities in certain settings. The vote was 37 in favor, 11 opposed and 1 abstention after a multi‑hour debate and several failed amendment attempts.
The Puerto Rico House of Representatives on Sept. 25 approved Project House 165, a bill that restricts multi‑stall “inclusive” restrooms in government agencies and requires sex‑segregated multi‑stall facilities and/or single‑stall "family" restrooms in specified public places. The chamber approved the bill as amended by a vote of 37 in favor, 11 opposed and one abstention.
Supporters said the measure aims to protect women and students in shared restrooms. Representative Wanda del Valle Correa, who presented the measure on behalf of the House committee that worked the bill, told colleagues the proposal was “loable, justa y necesario por la seguridad de los estudiantes” during the debate.
Opponents argued the bill is discriminatory and lacks empirical evidence that inclusive restrooms increase risk. Representative Gutiérrez Colón, speaking for the Partido Independentista, said the bill’s critics “reafirmamos nuestra oposición… por el carácter discriminatorio y en violación de los principios y derechos fundamentales.”
Lawmakers debated multiple amendments. A floor effort to remove language using the term “sexo biológico” and related wording was defeated after an objection from a member of the majority. Representatives also debated adding the Legislative Assembly (Capitol) explicitly to the bill; that effort was defeated. A motion to return the bill to committee, submitted during debate, was also rejected.
Supporters said the measure includes provisions aimed at protecting minors, students and persons with disabilities, and that agencies and municipalities can comply without major construction by designating single‑stall restrooms where present. Representatives who co‑authored or favored the bill said it also protects public funds by avoiding potential lawsuits at universities and other institutions.
Several speakers described incidents offered as evidence during committee hearings or public testimony. Representative José Aponte Hernández and others said agencies that supplied memorials to the committee had not submitted all requested documentation on schedule during the committee process; some members used those disagreements to press for additional study, but the final vote carried.
The bill was placed on the final voting calendar and approved in the electronic final vote that concluded at 4:18 p.m. The House recorded 37 yes, 11 no and one abstention on the final tally.
The bill’s next procedural step is transmittal as required under Puerto Rico’s legislative process.
Votes at a glance: Project House 165 — approved, 37–11–1.
(Provenance: debate and amendment proposals introduced beginning with the committee presentation at 1:57 p.m.; vote recorded in the chamber’s final tally at 4:18 p.m.)
