Bill prohibiting transgender people's access to 'female-only' spaces passes through Wyoming House
CHEYENNE — A bill prohibiting transgender people's access to women's restrooms, locker rooms and other 'female-only spaces' passed through the Wyoming House of Representatives on Friday.
House Bill 72, 'Protecting women's privacy in public spaces act,' sponsored by Rep. Martha Lawley, R-Worland, is one of several bills filed this legislative session that directly affect transgender people. Lawley's bill prevents transgender people from using any public 'female-only spaces,' including public restrooms, locker rooms, gender-assigned jails and single-sex schools.
A few amendments were added to the bill during its second and third readings to help with the logistics of enacting this law. Lawley successfully added an amendment to allow local governments to provide appropriate signage and adopt policies for enforcement reasons.
Rep. JD Williams, R-Lusk, also successfully added a provision to the bill that would help small rural jails.
Rep. Karlee Provenza, D-Laramie, proposed an amendment that would protect patrons from harassment in the bathroom. She said she was worried about the potential harassment individuals could face if they don't look like the gender of the restroom they're using, she said.
However, Lawley said the amendment was unneeded and could 'cloud' the intent of the bill. These civil causes of action already exist in the law, she said.
Rep. Martha Lawley, R-Worland (2025)
Rep. Martha Lawley, R-Worland
'It muddles what we're trying to do here in a very clear fashion,' Lawley said.
Provenza pushed back, however, saying her amendment was not related to criminal or Title VI laws — it just protects people in the bathroom.
'I don't think any person should have to suffer substantial emotional distress or fear because they went into a bathroom,' Provenza said, adding this bill forces people to use a bathroom they don't feel comfortable in. 'People that don't conform to what your beliefs are about gender are still people.'
Rep. Bob Nicholas, R-Cheyenne, brought an amendment, adding another exception to the bill for the 'use of a multi-occupancy changing area, restroom or sleeping quarter designed for the opposite sex when authorized by the public facility for temporary use by male or female groups and teams.'
Rep. Bob Nicholas, R-Cheyenne (2025)
Rep. Bob Nicholas, R-Cheyenne
He said this amendment would allow smaller schools to temporarily change boys locker rooms into girls locker rooms, and vice versa, should the need arise during a sports game, for example. Lawley said the added provision was not necessary, however, since it's already provided in the bill. The Republican representative pointed to the part of the bill where it says this act would not apply to 'changing areas, restrooms or sleeping quarters that have been temporarily designated for use by that person's sex.'
HB 72 passed the House on a vote of 52 to 8, with two excused. Votes against the bill included all six House Democrats, Nicholas and Rep. Julie Jarvis, R-Casper. It will now head to the Senate for further debate.
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