The Texas Senate has passed SB-3, The Privacy Act, which was formerly known as the Bathroom Bill.
The vote, like it was in March, was 21 to 10. Governor Greg Abbott, appearing this morning on Houston’s Morning News, told Newsradio 740 KTRH he wants the House to follow the Senate’s lead
“If I put this on the special session agenda item, I want these passed. I put twenty items on there and I want all 20 to pass,” Abbott said.
During the regular session, the Governor expressed his support for the House version of the bill, but told KTRH this morning he is just fine with what the Senate passed last night.
“What passed out of the Texas Senate was a very slight modification of what was HB 2899. It achieves my goal,” the Governor explained.
Brenham Republican Senator Lois Kolkhorst - who authored the measure - called it a victory for "daughters over dollars."
Supporters say local government officials "made a mess of this important issue"... adding "privacy should be protected in showers, locker rooms, and all public intimate spaces."
Not everyone backs the controversial measure. Austin Mayor Steve Adler was joined by police chiefs from across the state who say the bill targets members of the community who are already marginalized...
"This bathroom bill is a horrible solution to a non-existent problem that puts at risk and threatens some of the most vulnerable in our community."
Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo called the measure "great political theatre" but "bad public policy."
The final vote was 21-10, with one democrat crossing the aisle to support the measure.
The bill heads to the state House where it faces stiff opposition.