'Bathroom bill' up for a Senate vote

Protestors chant in the hall as Lt. Governor Dan Patrtick announces legislation by Senator Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham) concerning bathroom access rules in Texas on January 5, 2017. The bill is up for a vote in the Senate Monday, but it's future is uncertain in the House. less Protestors chant in the hall as Lt. Governor Dan Patrtick announces legislation by Senator Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham) concerning bathroom access rules in Texas on January 5, 2017. The bill is up for a vote in ... more Photo: Tom Reel, San Antonio Express-News Photo: Tom Reel, San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 29 Caption Close 'Bathroom bill' up for a Senate vote 1 / 29 Back to Gallery

AUSTIN -- The state Senate plans to vote on the so-called "bathroom bill" this week, advancing debate on whether Texas could be the next state to regulate which restrooms transgender people can use in government buildings.

The controversial bill is expected to pass in the upper chamber, where the legislation is a priority of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. The conservative Republican has been an outspoken advocate of the bill, which he says will protect women using the bathroom. The bill's future is uncertain in the House which has expressed little appetite to regulate which bathrooms transgender people should use.

VEHICLE INSPECTIONS: Lawmaker wants to do away with mandatory vehicle checks

A committee of lawmakers discussed the legislation, SB6, at length last week amid hours of testimony from over 100 transgender persons and their allies, who criticized the bill as an unwarranted attack. The committee hearing stretched into the wee hours of the morning with a 4:50 a.m. vote.

The bill requires transgender people to use bathrooms, changing rooms and locker rooms in government buildings that align to their sex at birth. The Senate convenes at 2 p.m. The bill is on the agenda for Monday but could be taken up later this week.

>>>Scroll through the gallery to see 10 things to know about the 'bathroom bill' in Texas and see the types of events North Carolina lost for passing similar legislation