The Texas Senate Committee on State Affairs has advanced Senate Bill 7, legislation seeking to bar transgender Texans from using public gendered spaces—such as public restrooms, restrooms and locker rooms in public schools, family violence shelters, and correctional facilities—aligned with their gender identity.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 4, 2025
CONTACT: Emily Witt (she/her), [email protected]
AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Senate Committee on State Affairs today advanced Senate Bill 7, legislation seeking to bar transgender Texans from using public gendered spaces—such as public restrooms, restrooms and locker rooms in public schools, family violence shelters, and correctional facilities—aligned with their gender identity.
The bill was introduced as part of the special legislative session called by Governor Abbott. The July 9 announcement of the special session centered on the need for flood relief and disaster preparedness in the wake of catastrophic flooding in the Texas Hill Country. Yet, the agenda for the special session, which can only last 30 days, included controversial issues like congressional redistricting, abortion access, and Senate Bill 7.
Texas Freedom Network Chief Program Officer Marti Bier (they/them) issued the following response:
“Once again, our state’s lawmakers are focused on attacking Texans instead of serving us. At a time when our communities are still reeling from the loss and devastation of the floods, right-wing legislators are choosing to divide and distract us by policing where transgender Texans pee. Senate Bill 7 is about power and control. Not safety.
“Lawmakers are stoking fear and creating a dangerous environment where all people, regardless of gender identity, will be subject to violence and harassment in public spaces if they do not conform to someone’s binary, personal view of what a ‘man’ or ‘woman’ should look like. Texans deserve legislators who will work for us, and we deserve the safety and dignity to use public restrooms, access resources at shelters, and change in locker rooms that align with who we know ourselves to be.
“Cruel policies like Senate Bill 7 are state-sanctioned violence against our communities. Texas Freedom Network will never stop fighting for the Texas we deserve—a Texas where all of us are embraced, safe, and free to thrive.”
Now that Senate Bill 7 has passed out of the Senate Committee, it will move to the full Texas Senate for debate and a vote. Typically, the legislation would then move to the Texas House committee for a hearing. However, Texas House business is currently stalled as a result of Texas House Democrats breaking quorum in response to a mid-decade congressional redistricting bill.
