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Odessa council approves amendment to restroom ordinance after hours of public testimony
Summary
Council voted to amend the city's restroom-use code, adopting language that defines biological sex by birth certificate, lists exceptions, and adds civil trespass penalties and a private right of action; the measure drew extensive public comment from both supporters and opponents during a heated debate.
The Odessa City Council approved an amendment to the city code regulating restroom use in public buildings after a lengthy presentation and more than an hour of public comment that sharply divided residents.
Jonathan Sines, an attorney with Texas Values who presented the draft language, framed the change as a clarification rather than a novel restriction. He explained the ordinance would define "biological sex" for restroom assignments using the birth certificate nearest the time of birth and create civil trespass penalties for knowingly entering a restroom "designated for the exclusive use by persons that do not correspond to his or her biological sex," while also enumerating exceptions for minors…
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