Texas Senate Bill 8 (2025)

Senate Bill 8
Texas Legislature
Long title AN ACT relating to the designation and use of certain spaces and facilities according to sex; authorizing a civil penalty and a private civil right of action.
Citation
Territorial extent	Texas
Enacted by	Texas Senate
Enacted by	Texas House of Representatives
Legislative history
First chamber: Texas Senate
Introduced	August 15, 2025
First reading	August 15, 2025
Second reading	August 18, 2025
Voting summary	19 voted for 11 voted against
Third reading	August 19, 2025
Voting summary	19 voted for 11 voted against
Second chamber: Texas House of Representatives
Received from the Texas Senate	August 20, 2025
First reading	August 20, 2025
Second reading	August 28, 2025
Third reading	August 28, 2025
Voting summary	86 voted for 45 voted against 1 present not voting
Final stages
Finally passed both chambers	September 3, 2025
Status: In force

Texas Senate Bill 8 (SB 8), also known as the Texas Women's Privacy Act, is a 2025 law in the state of Texas that prohibits people from using public bathrooms that differ from their sex assigned at birth. ^{[1] [2]} It passed the Texas Legislature during a special session on September 3, 2025, ^[2] and was signed by Governor Greg Abbott on September 22. The law went into effect on December 4, 2025. ^{[3] [4] [5]}

It is commonly referred to as a bathroom bill due to the effects it has transgender and intersex people in the state, who prefer to use facilities that align with their gender identity. ^{[6] [7]} As of September 2025, it is the most severe passed bathroom bill in the United States in terms of penalties. ^[8]

Background

Texas has a history of attempting to pass bills targeting bathroom access, though Senate Bill 8 was the first successful one. ^[9] Six different bathroom bills have passed the Texas Senate since 2017, though none made it through the Texas House of Representatives. ^[10] The first bill was introduced in 2015. ^[11] A bathroom bill was passed in Odessa in 2024. ^[12]

In June 2025, the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 229, which modifies the definition of sex, gender, and related terms in state law. ^[13] The law took effect on September 1, 2025. ^[14]

Provisions

Senate Bill 8 restricts access to bathrooms and locker rooms in government facilities, K-12 schools and universities by tying it to sex assigned at birth. ^[7] Transgender prisoners are also prohibited from being switched to a prison that aligns with their gender identity. ^[7]

Any facility which violates the provisions set out in Senate Bill 8 are fined $25,000 the first time and $125,000 for any subsequent violations, which are counted daily. ^[15] Reports from private citizens are handled by the Texas Attorney General's office. ^[13] The fines were quintupled in an amendment to the bill before passage, as the fines were previously $5,000 and $25,000. ^[16]

Reactions

Opposition

The ACLU of Texas publicly opposed Senate Bill 8, saying it endangered the health and safety of LGBTQ+ Texans. ^[17] The Human Rights Campaign also opposed Senate Bill 8. ^[18] A protest occurred outside the Texas Legislature after its passage. ^[13]

See also

• Bathroom bill
• LGBTQ rights in Texas

References

1. Sosin, Kate (September 3, 2025). "Texas bans transgender people from public bathrooms". The 19th. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
2. Migdon, Brooke (September 4, 2025). "Texas lawmakers vote to ban trans people from public restrooms that match their gender identity". The Hill. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
3. Armas, Marissa (September 27, 2025). "Texas enacts controversial "bathroom bill" into law". CBS Texas . Retrieved December 2, 2025.
4. Runnels, Ayden (December 1, 2025). "Texas' "bathroom bill" is about to go into effect. Here's what it does". The Texas Tribune . Retrieved December 2, 2025.
5. Kepner, Lily (December 4, 2025). "Texas bathroom bill takes effect. Here's how it impacts transgender college students". Austin American-Statesman . Retrieved December 4, 2025.
6. Perreault, Daniel (August 19, 2025). "Texas 'bathroom bill' gets final approval from state Senate". KVUE. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
7. Runnels, Ayden (August 28, 2025). "Texas lawmakers clear way for "bathroom bill" to become law". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
8. Shaw, Mack (August 28, 2025). "Texas House passes 'bathroom bill' aimed at trans people, now with quintupled penalties". FOX 7 Austin. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
9. Runnels, Ayden (August 20, 2025). "How Texas' "bathroom bills" have evolved over a decade". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
10. Runnels, Ayden (September 4, 2025). ""Bathroom bill" aimed at trans people awaits governor's signature after decade of failed attempts". KLTV 7. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
11. Howerton, Gwen (August 28, 2025). "Texas anti-trans bathroom bill to become law after decade-long crusade". Chron. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
12. Monteil, Abby (August 29, 2025). "Texas Advances "Cruel" Trans Bathroom Bill With Fines Up to $125,000". Them. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
13. Vasquez, Linda (August 28, 2025). "Texas 'bathroom bill' with new restrictions on transgender people nears governor's desk". KERA News. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
14. Freeman, Andrew (June 20, 2025). "Gov. Abbott signs 'Women's Bill of Rights' which opponents call an attack on trans Texans". Dayton 24/7 News NOW. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
15. Olivares Gutierrez, Gregorio (September 8, 2025). "Texas Bathroom Law Triggers Fear for Trans College Students". Dallas Observer. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
16. Runnels, Ayden (July 24, 2025). "Texas again trying to restrict the bathrooms transgender people can use". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
17. Gross, Kristi (August 28, 2025). "ACLU of Texas Comment on Passage of Bathroom Ban". ACLU of Texas. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
18. Keller, Jarred (September 4, 2025). "Texas Legislature Turns Its Back on Equality, Puts Texans at Risk as Anti-Transgender Bathroom Ban is Pushed Forward". Human Rights Campaign. Retrieved September 9, 2025.