Texas Gov. Abbott says he wants to sign a transgender bathroom bill
AUSTIN, Texas _ No longer silent on an issue that has roiled the Texas Legislature for months, Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday that he wants to work with the House and Senate to approve a transgender bathroom bill.
"I support the principles of both the Senate and House to protect privacy in bathrooms. We will work to get a bill to my desk," Abbott said via Twitter.
Abbott's statement of support came one day before a House committee was to begin debate on a new measure that would block cities, counties and school districts from enacting or enforcing transgender-friendly restroom policies.
House Bill 2899 by GOP state Rep. Ron Simmons would nullify local anti-discrimination protections that regulate access to multiple-occupancy bathrooms, showers and changing rooms.
"It's really targeted at making sure that a city or a political subdivision doesn't set up a new protected class," Simmons told the Austin American-Statesman. "My opinion is those issues should be handled at the state level so it's the same everywhere across the state."
_Austin American-Statesman
