Senate Committee Passes Bill Protecting Public School Student Privacy

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Above: Sen. Dan Sullivan (R – Jonesboro) and Rep. Mary Bentley (R – Perryville) present H.B. 1156 protecting student privacy in Arkansas.

On Wednesday the Senate Education Committee passed a measure protecting the physical privacy and safety of public school students in Arkansas.

H.B. 1156 by Rep. Mary Bentley (R – Perryville) and Sen. Dan Sullivan (R – Jonesboro) addresses privacy in public school locker rooms, showers, restrooms, changing areas, and similar facilities.

The bill required public schools to designate these facilities for “male” or “female” use.

H.B. 1156 passed in the Arkansas House of Representatives two weeks ago, where it received very strong support from lawmakers.

H.B. 1156 is a good bill that will protect public school students in Arkansas.

It now goes to the entire Arkansas Senate for consideration.

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Arkansas House Passes Bill Protecting Physical Privacy at Public School

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On Wednesday the Arkansas House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a measure that would protect the physical privacy and safety of students at public school

H.B. 1156 by Rep. Mary Bentley (R – Perryville) and Sen. Dan Sullivan (R – Jonesboro) addresses privacy in public school locker rooms, showers, restrooms, changing areas, and similar facilities by requiring public schools to designate these facilities for “male” or “female” use.

This is a good bill that will protect public school students in Arkansas.

The bill passed with 80 votes in the Arkansas House of Representatives on Wednesday.

It now goes to the Arkansas Senate for consideration.

The Following Representatives Voted FOR H.B. 1156

  • Achor
  • Andrews
  • Barker
  • Beaty Jr.
  • Beck
  • Bentley
  • M. Berry
  • S. Berry
  • Breaux
  • Brooks
  • K. Brown
  • M. Brown
  • Burkes
  • Joey Carr
  • John Carr
  • Cavenaugh
  • C. Cooper
  • Cozart
  • Crawford
  • Dalby
  • Duffield
  • Duke
  • Eaves
  • Eubanks
  • Evans
  • C. Fite
  • L. Fite
  • Fortner
  • Furman
  • Gazaway
  • Gonzales
  • Gramlich
  • Haak
  • Hawk
  • D. Hodges
  • G. Hodges
  • Holcomb
  • Hollowell
  • Jean
  • L. Johnson
  • Ladyman
  • Long
  • Lundstrum
  • Lynch
  • Maddox
  • J. Mayberry
  • McAlindon
  • McClure
  • McCollum
  • M. McElroy
  • McGrew
  • B. McKenzie
  • McNair
  • S. Meeks
  • Milligan
  • J. Moore
  • K. Moore
  • Painter
  • Pearce
  • Pilkington
  • Puryear
  • Ray
  • Richmond
  • Rose
  • Rye
  • Schulz
  • R. Scott Richardson
  • Steimel
  • Tosh
  • Underwood
  • Unger
  • Vaught
  • Walker
  • Wardlaw
  • Warren
  • Watson
  • Wing
  • Womack
  • Wooldridge
  • Wooten

The Following Representatives Voted AGAINST H.B. 1156

  • F. Allen
  • Clowney
  • A. Collins
  • Ennett
  • D. Garner
  • Hudson
  • Magie
  • McCullough
  • Scott
  • Springer

The Following Representatives Voted “Present”

  • K. Ferguson
  • V. Flowers
  • Perry
  • J. Richardson
  • T. Shephard

The Following Representatives Did Not Vote

  • D. Ferguson
  • Miller
  • Nicks
  • D. Whitaker
  • Mr. Speaker

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House Committee Hears Testimony On Bill Protecting Public School Student Privacy in Locker Rooms, Restrooms

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On Thursday the House Education Committee heard testimony for and against a bill protecting students’ privacy in public school locker rooms, showers, restrooms, changing areas and similar facilities.

H.B. 1156 by Rep. Mary Bentley (R – Perryville) and Sen. Dan Sullivan (R – Jonesboro) requires public schools to designate these facilities exclusively for “male” or “female” use.

The bill contains exceptions allowing public schools to make reasonable accommodations for transgender students — such as letting them use a a single-occupancy restroom or changing area.

In the past federal officials and others have tried to force public schools to let students use whatever locker room or restroom they want regardless of their biological sex. In some cases, this has threatened students’ privacy and physical safety.

However, federal courts have made it clear that schools can designate restrooms and locker rooms as “male” and “female.”

Earlier this month the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that “separating school bathrooms based on biological sex passes constitutional muster and comports with Title IX.”

Family Council has said for years that Arkansas needs to pass legislation that will protect the privacy and safety of children in public school showers, locker rooms, and restrooms.

H.B. 1156 is good, commonsense legislation that will do precisely that.

The House Education Committee heard testimony on the bill Thursday, and Family Council expects the committee to vote on the measure at a later date.

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