Abbott applauds bathroom proposal

AUSTIN — Calling it “a thoughtful proposal,” Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday praised a House bill that would prohibit cities, counties and public school districts from enforcing nondiscrimination ordinances when they involve multioccupancy rest rooms or locker rooms.

While Abbott did not side with the House measure, authored by Rep. Ron Simmons, R- Carrollton, or a more wide-reaching Senate bill, the governor pledged to help find a com- promise between both chambers’ legislation in the nearly 40 days remaining in the session.

“I applaud the House and Senate for tackling an issue that is of growing concern to parents and communities across Texas who are now looking to the Legislature for solutions,” Abbott said in a statement, breaking his silence on the issue.

“Rep. Simmons is offering a thoughtful proposal to make sure our children maintain privacy in our school bathrooms and locker rooms. As the debate on this issue continues, I will work with the House and Senate to ensure we find a solution and ultimately get a bill to my desk that I will sign into law.”

Later Tuesday, Abbott tweeted, “I support the principles of both the Senate & House to protect privacy in bathrooms. We will work to get a bill to my desk.”

Simmons’ HB 2899 is set for a public hearing on Wednesday in the House State Affairs Committee.

In March, the Senate approved its proposal that would force transgender Texans to use rest rooms and other facilities at public colleges and government buildings that match their “biological sex” as designated on their birth certificate.