July 21, 2017      8:00 PM

Updated: Senate State affairs kicks out bathroom legislation to kick off the weekend

Lack of invited testimony signals to business leaders that senators are disinterested in their thoughts; hundreds line up to oppose restrictions on which people can relieve themselves in which public facilities

In the first public hearing on the so-called bathroom bills of the special session, over 250 people signed up to testify on SB 3 and SB 91, most of whom opposed the measure. It was a familiar sight for those who attended committee hearings on similar legislation during the regular session. And just like the regular session, the legislation was kicked out of the committee nearly along party lines, with one Democrat voting yes.

The bills authored by Senator Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, were filed to answer Governor Greg Abbott’s call to “protect the privacy of women and children” during the special session, following a relentless push from Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick to legislate which people can use which public facilities.

By Lyanne A. Guarecuco

Copyright July 21, 2017, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved