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Committee advances bill that bars access to single-sex facilities based on sex; opponents warn of harms
Summary
Senate Bill 486, which would require single-sex restroom, locker room and sleeping accommodations in public buildings and shelters and allows civil suits for violations, passed the committee after debate over definitions, sovereign immunity and public-safety claims.
Little Rock — The Senate State Agencies & Governmental Affairs Committee advanced Senate Bill 4 86, a controversial measure introduced by Senator Blake Johnson that would limit access to restrooms, locker rooms, changing rooms and sleeping quarters in public buildings, state and local correctional facilities, and shelters by sex as defined in the bill.
Johnson, the bill sponsor, said SB 486 “protects the physical privacy and safety of women and men in shelters, state and local correctional facilities, and all public buildings operated by government entity.” He told the committee the bill would allow reasonable accommodations such as single-occupancy or family restrooms and would create a civil cause of action if required separations were not provided.
Committee members pressed the sponsor on whether the bill addressed a pervasive local…
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