A pair of controversial bills on transgender bathroom access and replacing offices of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion on college campuses have cleared final votes in the Utah State Senate.
House Bill 257 , dealing with transgender bathroom access, passed 21-8 with two Republicans joining Democrats in opposition. The bill experienced whiplash with provisions stripped out on Wednesday being reinserted on Thursday.
House Bill 261 , the DEI replacement bill, passed 23-6 along party lines.
The bills now goes to the House because they have been amended. If representatives agree to the changes, the bills then go to Governor Spencer Cox’s desk. If there are further amendments in the House, the Senate would have to agree to them.
HB257, which initially sought to restrict public restroom access to sex designated at birth, was significantly rewritten on Wednesday in the Senate . It striped out that controversial provision, but kept some restrictions in locker room changing areas and public school restrooms. The new bill bolsters voyeurism and lewdness laws in what its sponsors insist is targeting people’s behavior and not gender identity. The bill also requires more unisex facilities in new public facilities and retrofitting existing facilities when possible.