Ohio Lawmakers Discreetly Add Anti-Trans Bathroom Addendum to Education Bill

Ohio is being sneaky … again! Recently, Ohio Republicans quietly integrated the provisions of House Bill 183, famously known as the anti-transgender “bathroom bill,” into an entirely unrelated education bill, Senate Bill 104. The maneuver bypassed the usual legislative procedures, merging bills without prior notice or extensive debate. 

HB 183 mandates that all accredited schools and colleges in Ohio designate multi-use bathrooms, locker rooms, and shower facilities exclusively for “biological males” or “biological females.” It restricts the creation of all-gender facilities to those designated for single occupants and prohibits K-12 schools from allowing “males” and “females” to share overnight accommodations.

Despite initial bipartisan support for Senate Bill 104, the amended bill incorporating HB 183 passed the Ohio House of Representatives with a vote of 60-31. Notably, two Republican representatives joined Democrats in opposing the bill.

Democratic lawmakers strongly criticized the legislation during the debate, accusing Republicans of targeting transgender children and diverting attention from critical educational priorities. They argued that legislative focus should prioritize enhancing educational standards rather than regulating children’s access to facilities based on their gender identity.

House Bill 183 is part of a series of anti-transgender bills under consideration in Ohio. Previous legislation has already restricted transgender youth from participating in sports teams consistent with their gender identity and limited access to essential gender-affirming medical care.

In response to the bill’s passage, advocacy groups such as Equality Ohio and TransOhio swiftly condemned the move, labeling it discriminatory and harmful to transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals. These organizations have pledged to continue advocating against such measures and are urging the Ohio Senate to reject the amended bill after the summer recess. They are also calling on Governor Mike DeWine to veto the legislation if it reaches his desk, highlighting widespread public opposition to laws that restrict transgender rights.

The legislative maneuver in Ohio underscores broader national debates on transgender rights, with Republican lawmakers advancing similar measures across the country despite significant opposition from advocacy groups and Democratic legislators.