Illinois state Rep. Thomas Morrison ( R-Palatine ) filed legislation Jan. 20 that explicitly requires school pupils to use restrooms and changing facilities that correspond with their sex assigned at birth.

The bill, HB 4474, amends the School Code to require that facilities designate their facilities by sex, and mandates that students can only use the facilities of the sex that they were assigned at birth. It also puts into place a procedure wherein students can request use of single-occupancy facilities, or access to faculty bathrooms or changing rooms, if they do not wish to use their designated facilities.

The legislation effectively regulates how trans students can use bathrooms or locker rooms in their school. It follows a controversy in Morrison's district during a protracted legal battle between a transgender student and Township High School District 211. After a long dispute, and a determination of discrimination by federal regulators, the district allowed the student, a transgender girl, access to a private portion of the girl's locker room.

In December, Morrison wrote on his website that, "Over the last few weeks I have met with hundreds of people who are concerned about privacy issues for all public school students. I am in the process of finalizing legislation that creates a statewide standard that is both objective and fair so that every school district in Illinois can be confident in setting policy that respects the privacy of all students."

Restroom access for transgender individuals has arisen as a legislative issue in many states, including Indiana, Florida, Kentucky and Wisconsin, in recent years. Morrison's bill would next be sent to a House committee.

See www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp .