bathroom ban

Arkansas House committee changes controversial public bathroom bill

BY: - March 28, 2023

The Arkansas House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday approved an amended version of a bill that initially would have criminalized entering and remaining in bathrooms and locker rooms that do not match an adult’s gender assigned at birth if children are present. Senate Bill 270 now limits potential misdemeanor charges and prosecutions to adults present “for […]

Proposed law restricting school bathroom use will return to Arkansas House

BY: - March 13, 2023

A proposed law that would restrict bathroom use in Arkansas public and charter schools based on students’ gender assigned at birth passed the Senate with a 29-6 party-line vote Monday. House Bill 1156 would apply to multiple-occupancy restrooms and locker rooms, as well as rooms for students on overnight trips. It also requires schools to […]

Bill allowing malpractice suits for transgender minors’ health care goes to Sanders’ desk

BY: - March 8, 2023

A proposed law that would open the door for medical malpractice lawsuits against Arkansas doctors who provide gender-affirming care to transgender minors passed the House on Wednesday and will go to Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ desk. Senate Bill 199 would create civil liability for a doctor who “performs a gender transition procedure on a minor […]

Arkansas Senate approves bill restricting transgender adults’ bathroom use

BY: - March 7, 2023

The Arkansas Senate approved a proposed law Tuesday that would criminalize entering and remaining in bathrooms and locker rooms that do not match a person’s gender assigned at birth if there are children present. Senate Bill 270 would add the proposed Class C misdemeanor offense to existing state law regarding sexual indecency with a child. […]

Amended bill restricting transgender adults’ bathroom use will return to Arkansas Senate

BY: - March 6, 2023

A proposed law that would make it a crime if an adult “knowingly exposes his or her sex organs to a minor of the opposite sex” in a public restroom or changing room passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday after being amended. Adults who enter and remain in a facility that does not align […]

Arkansas bill restricting transgender adults’ bathroom use will be amended, returned to committee

BY: - March 1, 2023

Arkansas legislators will amend a proposed law that would make it a crime if an adult “knowingly exposes his or her sex organs to a minor of the opposite sex” in a public restroom or changing room. Sen. John Payton (R-Wilburn), the sponsor of Senate Bill 270, pulled the bill from consideration on the Senate […]

Arkansas panel OKs criminalization of using bathrooms that do not match a person’s biological sex

BY: - February 27, 2023

An Arkansas bill that opponents called the most stringent legislative attempt so far to restrict the behavior of transgender individuals passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday and will be considered by the full Senate. Senate Bill 270 would make it a crime if an adult “knowingly exposes his or her sex organs to a […]

Arkansas school bathroom use bill will be amended, sent back to committee

BY: - February 16, 2023

The bill that would restrict bathroom use in Arkansas public schools based on students’ gender assigned at birth will be amended and returned to the Senate Education Committee, Senate sponsor Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Jonesboro) said Thursday. House Bill 1156 was expected to receive a vote from the full Senate a day after passing the Senate […]

Bill restricting school bathroom use heads to Arkansas Senate floor

BY: - February 15, 2023

A proposed law to restrict bathroom use in public schools based on students’ sex assigned at birth passed the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday and will head to the Senate, the only remaining hurdle before going to the governor’s desk. House Bill 1156 applies to multiple-occupancy restrooms and locker rooms, as well as rooms for […]

Rep. Mary Bentley (R-Perryville) at a legislative hearing in February. (Photo by John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate)

Arkansas House committee hears legislation restricting school bathroom use

BY: - January 26, 2023

Thirteen people spoke against an Arkansas bill that would restrict bathroom use in public schools based on gender assigned at birth in the House Education Committee on Thursday. House Bill 1156 singles out transgender and gender-nonconforming youth and forces them to come out at school whether or not they want to do so, several witnesses […]

COMMENTARY
Image of crowd of transgender and cisgender people

Conway Schools should be embarrassed by anti-trans restroom policy, book censorship

BY: - October 14, 2022

The Conway School Board earned a badge of shame Tuesday when it adopted two policies that will harm transgender youth. One policy bans transgender youth from using restrooms not aligned with their assigned sex at birth. Gender nonconforming students made uncomfortable by this rule can opt to use single-use restrooms, but as one person noted […]