Texas Senate Protects Women

The Texas Senate has passed Senate Bill 7 (SB 7), authored by Senator Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston), in an 18–2 vote during the 89th Legislature’s First Special Session. The legislation would require individuals to use bathrooms, locker rooms, prisons, and violence shelters according to their biological sex at birth.

Under SB 7, violators could face fines of $5,000 for a first offense and $25,000 for repeat offenses.. It also defines “male” and “female” in statutory terms and explicitly prohibits invasive inspections as an enforcement method. SB 7 only applies to spaces owned or controlled by political subdivisions or state agencies which means public schools would be included. 

Senator Middleton rightfully called the measure “common sense” legislation rooted in “basic biblical truths.” Many Texans argue the bill is necessary to protect the privacy and safety of women and girls.

Texas Family Project (TFP) was in Austin to testify in favor of this key legislation. After hours and hours of listening to inapplicable testimony by transgenders and others, we were able to give our testimony. TFP Executive Director Kaden Lopez stated, “We shouldn’t have to live in a world where we fear men walking into bathrooms after our daughters go in. It is truly sickening that this is an actual issue that we actually have to address but I’m glad we’re addressing it now.” You can view his full testimony here.  

Opposition to the bill was vocal and volatile. More than 400 people registered to testify before the Senate State Affairs Committee, with over 100 appearing in person. Protestors stated the legislation could lead to discriminatory scrutiny of transgender and even cisgender women, which just simply isn’t true.

If enacted, the law would take effect in September 2025. However, the Texas House remains the key obstacle. While the House has a companion bill and significant Republican co-sponsorship, similar proposals have failed to advance in previous sessions. Adding to the uncertainty, many House Democrats have left the state in an effort to break quorum, stalling multiple pieces of legislation, including SB 7.

The Texas Senate has taken the lead on this issue for more than eight years. It is time we pass this legislation once and for all to send the message that we will not compromise on basic reality. Without this legislation, our wives, daughters, sisters, and mothers are left vulnerable. It’s time for common sense to be restored!