In the Spotlight
Latest Headlines
Queerness in Nature Is All Around Us January 26, 2024 at 1:59 pm Equality Texas Petitions the UN about Crisis in Texas January 22, 2024 at 7:00 am A Q&A with Sophia DeLoretto-Chudy October 27, 2023 at 1:25 pm
Legislation 2017 Special Session

2017: 85th First Special Session

The 85th First Special Session of the Texas Legislature convened on Tuesday, July 18, 2017. The 31 members of the Texas Senate and the 150 members of the Texas House of Representatives considered legislation that directly impacts the lives of 27 million Texans. Equality Texas aggressively advocated and lobbied to defeat legislation targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer Texans for discrimination.

As in the Regular Session, Equality Texas worked aggressively and was successful in defeating efforts to pass a discriminatory anti-transgender “bathroom bill”.

Click here to see Equality Texas 2017 Legislative Report and Scorecard.

Supported Legislation

Opposed Legislation

HB 46
Introduced: 7/10/2017
Authors: Simmons
Status: 7/20/2017: Referred to House State Affairs Committee
"Bathroom bill" vehicle: Statewide preemption bill prohibiting any political subdivision of the state from protecting a class of persons from discrimination with regard to accessing multiple-occupancy restrooms, showers, or changing facilities. Take Action Read Text of Bill
HB 50
Introduced: 7/10/2017
Authors: Simmons
Status: 7/20/2017: Referred to House State Affairs Committee
"Bathroom bill" vehicle: Statewide preemption bill prohibiting any school district board of trustees from protecting a class of persons from discrimination with regard to accessing multiple-occupancy restrooms, showers, or changing facilities. Take Action Read Text of Bill
SB 23
Introduced: 7/10/2017
Authors: Hall
Status: Filed
Prohibiting any local authority from providing nondiscrimination protections not otherwise provided in state law; repealing any existing local protections that are broader than state law. Read Text of Bill
SB 3
Introduced: 7/19/2017
Authors: Kolkhorst
Status: 7/27/2017: House received from the Senate
"Bathroom bill" - prohibiting transgender Texans from using restroom and changing facilities consistent with their gender identity. Read Text of Bill
SB 91
Introduced: 7/19/2017
Authors: Kolkhorst
Status: 7/21/2017: Left pending in committee - Senate State Affairs Committee
"Bathroom bill" - prohibiting transgender Texans from using restroom and changing facilities consistent with their gender identity. Read Text of Bill