Image Credit: TN General Assembly
The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
A bill that protects the privacy and security of girls and women in private spaces will likely soon be passed by the Tennessee General Assembly and be signed into law by the governor.
House Bill 0571 (HB0571), sponsored by Representative Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood-District 61), and its companion Senate Bill 0468 (SB0468), sponsored by Senator Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma-District 16), have both passed in their respective chambers.
SB0468 was placed on the Senate Message Calendar for Thursday but has been reset for April 21st, 2025.
Correction and detention facilities, college and university dorms, and domestic violence centers in the state would be affected by the legislation, named the “Women’s Safety and Protection Act,” and would require that private restrooms, changing rooms, and showers, be segregated according to biological sex.
First responders who are rendering aid, custodians, members of the same family, and young children who need help are all exempted. Single-occupancy areas that are not sex-specific are also not prohibited by the proposed law.
Bulso and Bowling sponsored other legislation this session requiring that all residential educational programs in Tennessee segregate restrooms, changing areas, and showers according to “immutable biological sex” if minors are allowed to participate or if they have access to residential facilities.
House Bill 0064 (HB0064) and Senate Bill 0472 (SB0472) which applies to elementary, middle, and secondary schools, as well as private schools, postsecondary schools, and higher education institutions, was signed into law by Governor Bill Lee earlier this month.
Like the Women’s Safety and Protection Act, the new law does not prevent parents from taking young children of the opposite sex into the restroom or prevent those assisting disabled persons.
Both bills have been opposed by Democrat lawmakers and received unanimous support by Republicans in both chambers during the bill’s progression.
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
3 Responses
So what’s the enforcement mechanism? Here in West Virginia, Gov. Patrick Morrissey signed SB 456, the Senate’s so-called “bathroom bill,” is disappointing but also expected. Rather than working on complicated issues like the economy, education, and infrastructure, the GOP supermajority spent time vilifying trans West Virginians. But it’s important to remember that there are no enforcement provisions. There are no penalties for failing to comply. Even Senator Mike Oliverio, when interviewed about this on a talk radio program, admitted that the bill is little more than a “declaration” of the GOP’s opposition to trans women using women’s restrooms. I suggest that this bill simply be ignored. Use the restroom you feel most comfortable using, as trans people have been doing forever. And you should feel safe doing so. Trans Tennesseean are just as entitled to public accommodation as anyone else.
Why are you here? This site is for Conservative Tennesseans, NOT out of state liberals. You are lucifer’s despicable dimmercrap troll. I’m hoping Jason blocks you. You add NOTHING of value.
My comment was moderated, then posted. But I suppose Jason could also block me. It would simply be another example of “Cancel Culture.” But why are you so terrified of contrary viewpoints? If you think the comment section should be a conservative echo chamber, with people just preaching to the choir and patting each other on the back, why have a comment section to begin with? The only way Tennessee is going to keep trans people from using public restrooms is to require everyone submit to a genital exam before using a restroom.