AUSTIN – Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued the following statement today upon the passage of Senate Bill 7, Protecting Women’s Spaces, by Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston:

“In 2017, Sen. Lois Kolkhorst and I were ahead of our time in addressing the issue of women’s privacy, passing legislation out of the Senate to keep men out of women’s restrooms and boys out of girls’ locker rooms and showers in schools. Unfortunately, under previous speakers, the bill never cleared the House. Senate Bill 7, by Sen. Middleton, ensures Texas women have adequate privacy and will keep men out of women’s bathrooms, locker rooms, and family shelters.

“The Texas Senate will continue passing this bill each legislative session to protect women and girls until House Democrats return from their ‘vacation’ and get back to work for the people of Texas.”