A bathroom bill is the common name for legislation or a statute that defines access to public toilets by gender or transgender identity. Bathroom bills affect access to sex-segregated public facilities for an individual based on a determination of their sex as defined in some specific way, such as their sex as assigned at birth, their sex as listed on their birth certificate, or the sex that corresponds to their gender identity. A bathroom bill can either be inclusive or exclusive of transgender individuals, depending on the aforementioned definition of their sex.
Proponents of the bills argue that such legislation is necessary to maintain privacy, protect modesty held by most cisgender people, prevent voyeurism, assault, molestation, and rape, and ensure psychological comfort. Critics of the bills, including advocacy groups and researchers, argue that such legislation does not enhance safety for cisgender people and may increase risks for transgender and gender non-conforming cisgender people. The UCLA's Williams Institute has tracked prevalence of crimes in bathrooms since the passage of various protections for the transgender population and has found that there has been no significant change in the number of crimes. Organizations such as the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics have expressed opposition to trans-exclusive bathroom bills, citing concerns about their impact on public health and safety.
Moreover, Vox found that "there's no evidence that nondiscrimination laws—and other policies that also let trans people use the bathroom for their gender identity—lead to sexual assault in bathrooms and locker rooms" and Media Matters "confirmed with experts and officials in 12 states and 17 school districts with protections for trans people that they had no increases in sex crimes after they enacted their policies".
The film Growing Up Coy documented a landmark 2013 case in which the Colorado Civil Rights Division ruled in favor of allowing transgender six-year-old Coy Mathis to use the girls' bathroom at her elementary school in Fountain, Colorado. The case has been credited with setting off a wave of bathroom bills across the United States in the years following. Though guidance was issued by the Obama administration in 2016 stating that schools which receive federal money must treat a student's gender identity as their sex (for example, in regard to bathrooms), this policy was revoked by the first Trump administration in 2017.
United States
As of March 19, 2026, bathroom restrictions on transgender individuals are in effect in 22 U.S. states:
+ Table of state transgender bathroom restrictions in the U.S. Number State Effective date Applies to Maximum penalty Exceptions 2nd Tennessee Public K–12 schools Civil lawsuit allowed by students, parents, or employees Single-occupancy facility may be requested as accommodation 3rd Alabama Public K–12 schools No statutory penalty specified; institutions are expected to comply voluntarily No exceptions specified 4th Oklahoma Charter schools Public K–12 schools 5% loss in state funding Parents may sue Single-occupancy facilities may be provided 5th Iowa Private K–12 schools Public K–12 schools Any citizen may file complaint with the Attorney General of Iowa No exceptions specified 6th Kentucky Public K–12 schools No statutory penalty specified; institutions are expected to comply voluntarily No exceptions specified 7th Florida Public K–12 schools Colleges College-run student housing Correctional institutions Domestic violence centers Healthcare facilities Homeless shelters State government buildings with restrooms or changing facilities Universities Private (only if state-funded, state-licensed, or state-regulated) Colleges College-run student housing Correctional institutions Universities State-licensed State colleges Domestic violence centers Healthcare facilities Assisted living facilities Massage establishments Optical establishments Shelters Pain management clinics Pharmacies Substance abuse treatment facilities State universities Individuals who willfully enter a restroom or changing facility designated for the opposite sex and refuse to leave when asked commit trespass in a structure or conveyance, classified as a second-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to 60 days in jail and a fine of up to $500 Covered entities that fail to comply with the law may face civil actions initiated by the Florida Attorney General, who can seek injunctive relief and impose fines of up to $10,000 per violation for willful non-compliance Educational institutions, correctional facilities, detention centers, and public agencies must establish internal disciplinary procedures for staff, students, or inmates who violate the bill's provisions, with penalties that may include suspension, termination, or other appropriate disciplinary measures in accordance with institutional policies Assisting someone due to age, disability, or medical need Providing medical aid or emergency care Responding to emergencies Cleaning/maintenance when facility is unused Opposite facility is empty and assigned one is out of order Students and school staff excluded from criminal trespass Juveniles and staff exempt in juvenile facilities Public employees exempt in public buildings Persons under medical treatment for intersex conditions (DSDs) 8th Arkansas Public K–12 schools $1,000 minimum civil penalty per violation Lawsuits allowed Single-user accommodations may be offered 10th Virginia (Model Policies on Ensuring Privacy, Dignity, and Respect for All Students and Parents in Virginia's Public Schools)
(Hanover County Public Schools) (Spotsylvania County Public Schools) (Roanoke County Public Schools) (Pittsylvania County Public Schools) (Virginia Beach City Public Schools) (Newport News Public Schools) (Rockingham County Public Schools) (Chesapeake City Public Schools) (Lynchburg City Public Schools) K–12 public schools: As of June 4, 2024, the following nine Virginia school districts have adopted bathroom restrictions in alignment with the model policy: Chesapeake City Public Schools Hanover County Public Schools Lynchburg City Public Schools Newport News Public Schools Pittsylvania County Public Schools Roanoke County Public Schools Rockingham County Public Schools Spotsylvania County Public Schools Virginia Beach City Public Schools No statewide enforcement mechanism; state administrative guidance allows local school districts to adopt enforcement, though compliance is discretionary No exceptions specified in state administrative guidance; local school districts may make exceptions under state guidance 11th North Dakota Public colleges Public K–12 schools No statutory penalty specified; institutions are expected to comply voluntarily Single-user accommodation allowed with parental consent 12th Utah Government-owned facilities Public colleges Public schools Class B misdemeanor (up to 6 months in jail and $1,000 fine); elevated to Class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year in jail and $2,500 fine) if trespass occurs in a dwelling; additional civil penalties may apply Exception for post-op individuals with updated birth certificates 13th South Carolina Public K–12 schools Loss of 25% of state operational funding for noncompliance; penalty enforced annually through budget provision Single-user accommodation may be offered upon parental request 14th Mississippi Public colleges Public schools Civil lawsuits by individuals Attorney General of Mississippi may also enforce No exceptions specified 15th Louisiana Adult correctional facilities Charter schools Domestic violence shelters Juvenile correctional facilities Public K–12 schools Civil lawsuits permitted by individuals alleging harm Remedies include injunctions, protective orders, declaratory relief, actual damages, attorney fees, and costs Assistance for young children Assistance for individuals covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act Custodial services Maintenance services Medical services Law enforcement services Emergencies Single-occupancy restrooms, changing rooms, and sleeping quarters not designated by sex are allowed 3rd (overall)
6th (public colleges only) Alabama Public colleges No statutory penalty specified; institutions are expected to comply voluntarily No exceptions specified 16th (overall)
7th (public colleges only) Ohio Private colleges Private schools Public colleges Public school Residential educational programs allowing minors, including overnight stays No statutory penalty specified; institutions are expected to comply voluntarily Children under 10 People with disabilities Staff on duty 9th Idaho Public K–12 schools Civil action: $5,000 per incident, plus additional damages Reasonable accommodations (e.g., single-occupancy facilities) 18th (overall)
9th (public colleges only)West Virginia Legislature. “Senate Bill 456 History.” *West Virginia Legislature*. Accessed July 19, 2025. https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_history.cfm?input=456&year=2025&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill West Virginia Correctional institutions Licensed domestic violence shelters receiving funding from the West Virginia Department of Human Services Public K–12 schools State institutions of higher education No statutory penalty specified; institutions are expected to comply voluntarily No exceptions specified 2nd (overall)
3rd (residential educational programs allowing minors, including overnight stays only) Tennessee Residential educational programs allowing minors, including overnight stays Civil lawsuit allowed by students, parents, or employees Single-occupancy facility may be requested as accommodation 19th (overall)
10th (public colleges only) South Dakota Public K–12 schools State-owned buildings State-owned facilities Declaratory and injunctive relief may be sought if schools or state agencies fail to take reasonable steps to prevent access by someone of the opposite sex No exceptions specified 20th (overall)
11th (public colleges only) Wyoming Government-owned buildings Government-owned colleges Government-owned spaces Public K–12 schools Parents or guardians may sue for violations in K–12 settings only No statutory penalty specified for government-owned buildings, colleges, and spaces; institutions are expected to comply voluntarily City jails County jails 9th (overall)
12th (public colleges only) Idaho Correctional facilities Domestic violence shelters Juvenile correctional centers State educational institutions Civil action for declaratory Injunctive relief if violations occur Custodial services Medical assistance Law enforcement Emergency services Maintenance Situations involving custodial care Situations involving family members Situations involving legal guardians Situations involving assistance for individuals with disabilities 8th (overall)
13th (public colleges only) Arkansas Government-run shelters Juvenile detention facilities Other government-owned public buildings State correctional facilities Civil liability: private right of action for damages Declaratory and injunctive relief Aid to disabled Aid to elderly Aid to young children Coach/athletic personnel Custodial work Emergency situations Law enforcement duties Medical aid 21st (overall)
14th (public colleges only) Texas 91st day after adjournment sine die of the 89th Legislature, 2nd Called Session (likely if the session ends ) Government-owned/controlled multiple-occupancy private spaces (restrooms, locker rooms, changing rooms, showers) in state agencies and political subdivisions (incl. public colleges/universities and school districts) Correctional facilities (housing by sex) Family violence shelters (female-only services if designated for female victims)