Latest news with #SB468
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tennessee House passes bill to segregate university, prison bathrooms by biological sex
A bill to require restrooms and showers in detention facilities, public college dormitories, and domestic violence centers be segregated by biological sex will soon be headed to Gov. Bill Lee's desk. SB 468/HB 571, sponsored by Sen. Janice Bowling, R-Tullahoma, and Rep. Gino Bulso, R-Brentwood, has passed both the Senate and House of Representatives, and needs a final procedural vote before going to Lee's desk to be signed. 'This bill is part of our continuing effort to protect the privacy and security of girls and women in private spaces,' Bulso said on Tuesday. Bowling and Bulso presented the bill as an effort to improve public safety, seeking to eliminate issues "with biological males accessing private areas which should only be accessed by girls and women.' No specific examples of existing issues were offered during debate on the bill. Dubbed the 'Women's Safety and Protection Act," the bill would require private restroom, changing, and showering facilities to be segregated by biological sex ― as defined in the bill ― at all correction and detention facilities, college and university dormitories, and domestic violence centers in the state. Individuals other than the designated sex would be prohibited from entering those private spaces. The bill makes exceptions for members of the same family, young children needing assistance, custodians and first responders rendering aid. The bill does not prohibit shelters, schools, and correctional facilities from establishing single-occupancy areas that are not designated by sex. Opponents of the bill criticized it as an effort to target transgender individuals' security and participation in society. 'This bill is not about safety. It is about exclusion. Under the guise of protecting women, HB 571 seeks to codify rigid, outdated definitions of sex that fail to account for the existence of transgender people like me,' Elliot Certain, a transgender student at Middle Tennessee State University, told the Civil Justice Subcommittee last month. House Republicans passed the bill along party lines on Tuesday, without any debate after leadership called for an immediate vote, cutting off Democrats' ability to object. Ahead of the House floor vote on April 15, Rep. Aftyn Behn, D-Nashville, presented amendments seeking to allow transgender individuals to use facilities of their choice. Republicans voted them down. 'This bill basically insinuates that trans individuals who use the bathroom of their choice are predators and that they do not deserve to use bathrooms and other accommodations that suit them,' Behn argued. 'This bill is about fear. This is not about safety. … There is no epidemic of trans Tennesseans causing harm in bathrooms.' Separately this year, Bulso sponsored a bill requiring residential education programs in Tennessee to segregate restrooms and shower facilities by 'immutable biological sex.' Lee signed the bill into law earlier this month. State law already bars transgender students from accessing sex-based multi-use restrooms and changing facilities, instead requiring schools to offer another 'reasonable accommodation' to transgender students and school staff. A federal judge dismissed a legal challenge last September. Vivian Jones covers state government and politics for The Tennessean. Reach her at vjones@ This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TN House passes bill to segregate college bathrooms by biological sex
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Florida bill would create stricter punishment for leading law enforcement on pursuits
The Brief HB 113 and its companion, SB 468, would increase penalties for fleeing law enforcement in Florida. State Rep. Ryan Chamberlin filed HB 113 in response to the death of FHP Trooper Zachary Fink, along with data showing an increase in high-speed pursuits. The bill is moving through committees in the Florida House as the legislative session continues. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - A bill filed by a Florida lawmaker to increase penalties for those who lead law enforcement on pursuits is moving forward in Tallahassee. The backstory State Rep. Ryan Chamberlin (R-Ocala) filed HB 113, citing the tragic death of Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Zachary Fink, who was killed in a crash with a semi-truck during a pursuit in South Florida early last year. The driver of the semi also died in the crash. HB 113 would create stricter punishment for suspects who flee or elude law enforcement. Right now, those who run from police in Florida are charged with a third-degree felony, punishable by up to five years in prison, five years' probation, a $5,000 fine and a mandatory one-to-five-year license revocation. If passed, the bill would call for more prison time. What they're saying Rep. Chamberlin says, in addition to Trooper Fink's death, the bill was also inspired by a recent uptick in high-speed pursuits. "In the Marion County Sheriff's Office alone, there have been documented over 1,100 high-speed chases. That's almost one every day and a half just in my district. The numbers really increase across the whole state, and with this bill, we hope to change that," Chamberlin said. Follow FOX 13 on YouTube Dig deeper HB 113 is moving through committees in the Florida House, with the latest reading held this past Friday. A companion bill, SB 468, has yet to go to any committee votes. To read the full text of HB 113, click here. The Source Information for this story was gathered by FOX 13's Mariah Harrison. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
