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January 11, 2017      6:04 PM

Updated: Bathroom politics skirmish in the Texas House as business leaders decry direction of the Senate

Convention business leaders say “perception is reality in our business,” no matter what carve-outs the Senate has planned for restroom bill

The Texas House almost tested the waters for a so-called “bathroom bill” on Wednesday in an amendment to the housekeeping bill – a failed change that would have required people to use the bathroom of their “biological sex” in Capitol bathrooms.

Before the amendment, authored by Rep. Matt Schaefer, R-Tyler, could be presented or voted on, the author withdrew it. If considered, the votes could have been an indicator of the fate of Senate Bill 6,  Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s “Texas Privacy Act.”

“In the view of every person’s fundamental interest in privacy while in a state of undress, the house of representatives shall continue to designate any multiple-occupancy facility under the jurisdiction of the house to be used only by a person based on the person’s biological sex,” the amendment read.

House Administration Chairman Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth, author of the resolution, called a point of order when the amendment was filed, saying it was not germane and argued the Preservation Board oversees those restrooms, not the House.

By Eleanor Dearman

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