Texas Flood-Relief Special Session Includes Controversial Transgender Bathroom Bill Proposal

Texas lawmakers are set to gather next week for a special session aimed at addressing pressing issues, specifically the aftermath of the deadly floods that impacted parts of the state earlier this month, as well as legislation concerning restroom access for transgender Texans. Initially, Governor Greg Abbott called for the special session in June to revisit six bills he had vetoed during the regular legislative session, including a controversial ban on hemp products containing THC.

However, following devastating flash floods in central Texas on July 4 that resulted in over 120 fatalities and many missing persons, the focus of the session shifted towards flood relief efforts. Despite this change, Governor Abbott’s 18-point agenda released last week included a broader range of topics beyond flood-related measures.

In addition to provisions addressing hemp products, he has requested lawmakers to consider legislation aimed at “further protecting unborn children and their mothers from the harm of abortion” and measures that would safeguard women’s privacy in sex-segregated spaces. On the opening day for bill filings in the special session, none of the 82 proposed measures mentioned the recent floods, as reported by KXAN-TV.

Among the filings was a contentious “bathroom bill” introduced by Republican state Representative Valoree Swanson, which mandates that transgender individuals use bathrooms corresponding to their sex assigned at birth within public schools, government buildings, and correctional facilities. If House Bill 32, dubbed the Texas Women’s Privacy Act, is enacted, entities that fail to comply could face financial penalties and civil lawsuits.

Currently, 19 states have regulations limiting restroom access for transgender individuals. In Texas, the previous legislative session concluded with the introduction of 88 anti-LGBTQ bills, of which four were passed into law, leading to concerns among advocacy groups regarding ongoing discrimination and regulatory measures against LGBTQ rights.