SAN ANTONIO – For the first time, Gov. Greg Abbott weighed in on the controversial bathroom bills in the Texas House and Senate.
Senate Bill 6, titled as the Privacy Protection Act by its author, state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, passed the Senate last month.
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The bill mirrors House Bill 2, which was signed into law in North Carolina last year.
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It requires government offices at all levels, public school districts and public universities to require people to use “bathrooms or changing facilities” of the sex that’s on their birth certificate, regardless whether that’s the gender they consider themselves.
Opponents also argue that in addition to affecting civil rights, the bill could see major economic loss.
A study by noted economist Ray Perryman shows the potential losses from Senate Bill 6, otherwise known as the bathroom bill, would be $411.8 million in revenue and 4,650 jobs in the San Antonio metro area. Statewide, the impact could be $3.3 billion and 36,000 jobs if SB6 is adopted.
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Though the Texas Senate has passed the bill, but a vote has not been scheduled in the House.
However, HB 2899, introduced last week, has a committee hearing Wednesday. It would declare non-discrimination ordinances, including San Antonio’s, “null and void.”
I support the principles of both the Senate & House to protect privacy in bathrooms. We will work to get a bill to my desk. #txlege #tcot https://t.co/sDiECfHbdd
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) April 18, 2017
Abbott called HB 2899 “thoughtful” and said in a tweet, “We will work to get a bill to my desk.”
Besides costing ~$3 billion in loss, #HB2899 discriminates against transgender Texans. #TXLege Time to fight back https://t.co/CN8nGQWXz7 https://t.co/kNCQUy5guv
— Sarah Kate Ellis (@sarahkateellis) April 18, 2017
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