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

KUAR | By Tess Vrbin / Arkansas Advocate

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 floor Wednesday in order to clarify some of the language.

Adults who enter and remain in a facility that does not align with their gender assigned at birth would risk criminal charges of sexual indecency with a child if they are aware that minors are present, the bill states.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-03-02/arkansas-bill-restricting-transgender-adults-bathroom-use-will-be-amended-returned-to-committee

Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate

Sen. Clarke Tucker (D-Little Rock) explains his opposition to Senate Bill 270 before the full Senate on March 1, 2023. The bill would make it a crime of sexual indecency with a child if a person enters and remains in a restroom that does not align with their biological sex when children are present.