After a marathon hearing that continued much of the night, a Texas bill that would limit public bathroom access for transgender people passed a legislative committee early Wednesday.
The 8-1 vote means the bill now goes to the full Senate for a vote, continuing the battle in Texas over an issue that has already prompted political upheaval elsewhere in the country.
The proposed Texas legislation would require people to use the bathrooms of their birth sex in public schools, and in state and local government facilities...
Last week, nearly 70 businesses with Texas operations, including Apple Inc., United Airlines and Marriott International Inc., sent a letter to state lawmakers expressing opposition to the bill. The letter said the measure would damage the state’s economy and stymie businesses’ ability to recruit top talent.
“We know that Texas is a great place to work and play, but it can be difficult to recruit young lawyers to come here because they view Texas as not being inclusive and open, especially millennials,” said Lynne Liberato, a partner at Haynes and Boone LLP, a Dallas-based law firm that employs 376 lawyers throughout Texas, who signed the letter. “This bill only serves to reinforce that negative perception.”
Excerpted from The Wall Street Journal. To read the full article, please click here (subscription required).