To: The Office of Governor Greg Abbott
From: Texas Values Law and Policy Team
RE: Requesting the issue of protecting women’s privacy is added to Special Session Call

Dear Governor Greg Abbott,

Our team is grateful for the passing and signing of key legislation during the 89th Texas Legislature that protects faith, family, and freedom for all Texans. We are especially grateful for you signing House Bill 229, The Texas Women’s Bill of Rights (What is a Woman Bill) this past weekend which will help defend the true definition of “male” and “female” and all of the rights and privileges that come with accurately defining those terms.

However, there is one piece of legislation that was not passed this session that we would like to see added to the call for the first Special Session. We ask that the issue of protecting women in their private spaces be added to the Special Session call. During the 89th Regular Session, Senate Bill 240, The Texas Women’s Privacy Act, received strong support from supporters from across the state who came to testify, outnumbering opposition to the bill. The companion bill, HB 239, received signatures from over 80 members of the Texas House of Representatives. However, HB 239 never received a hearing in the Texas House Committee on State Affairs. When SB 240 successfully passed out of the Senate chamber, it did not receive a hearing in House State Affairs despite several requests made by phone and email from supporters across the state of Texas.

We believe that passing legislation with clear guidelines, enforcement, and legal remedies for women who find a male in their private spaces is an urgent matter to be addressed. The Texas Women’s Privacy Act will provide all of these things.

This session it could not have been clearer on why this piece of legislation is needed. Two young women getting their start in Texas state policy both found themselves being forced to share a restroom at the Texas Capitol with men. One of those young women was a member of the Texas Values team. And we would be remiss not mention the tragic story of Texas female athlete Brooke Slusser, who was forced to share a locker room, hotel room, bathroom, and living space with a young man who was pretending to be a woman.

Texas would be joining 17 other states who have laws that protect women in their sex- separated spaces, if we were to pass the Texas Women’s Privacy Act this year. There are local

government entities in Texas who have policies to protect women and girls like Odessa City Council and Carroll Independent School District. Recently, the State Republican Executive Council (SREC) voted to have The Texas Women’s Privacy Act on their list of policy issues that they would like to see addressed in a special session.

We ask that Governor Greg Abbott add the issue of protecting women and girls in their private spaces to the Special Session call that will begin on July 21.

Sincerely,
Jonathan Saenz, Esq.
President and Attorney for Texas Values

Mary Elizabeth Castle
Director of Government Relations for Texas Values

Jonathan Covey
Director of Policy for Texas Values