AUSTIN, TX — Women’s private single-sex spaces are one step closer to protection in Texas, as Senate Bill 8—the “Texas Women’s Privacy Act”—passed through the Texas Legislature, advancing to Governor Greg Abbott for his final signature before becoming law. 

Governor Abbott added the bill as a priority for the summer special session and builds on his signing of House Bill 229 (HB 229) in June, which made Texas the 17th state to legally define “woman” and “man” across state code. Senate Bill 8 represents the final piece of Independent Women’s Stand With Women legislative framework in Texas, protecting fairness, dignity, and equal opportunity for women under state law.

“We thank Governor Abbott for including the Texas Women’s Privacy Act in his call for the special session, Speaker Dustin Burrows and Majority Leader Tan Parker for advocating for its passage in their respective chambers, Sen. Mayes Middleton for carrying this critical legislation, Senate and House State Affairs Committee Chairmen Bryan Hughes and Ken King for swiftly passing the bill through committee, and all the legislators who voted to pass this important bill,” said Beth Parlato, senior legal advisor for Independent Women’s Law Center. “We thank our partners at Texas Values for their tenacious dedication to the women’s rights movement and the hundreds of Texas residents who wrote their legislators to urge support of this bill. It was a team effort and we’re looking forward to Texas safeguarding women’s sex-based rights for generations to come.”

Mary Elizabeth Castle, Director of Government Relations, Texas Values said, “Texas made history today by advancing The Texas Women’s Privacy, Senate Bill 8. I look forward to Governor Abbott signing and celebrating this piece of legislation. It is long overdue that we put protections in place for women and girls in their private spaces in Texas. No woman or girl in the gym locker room should have to constantly look over her shoulder to see if a man is there watching her shower or undress. Our Texas legislature has made the message loud and clear: You don’t mess with Texas women and their dignity”.

Independent Women ambassadors have been on the front lines advocating for the protection of women’s sports and spaces in Texas. Payton McNabb, Independent Women sports ambassador and former high school athlete, and Amie Ichikawa, Independent Women women’s spaces ambassador, former prisoner, and founder of Woman II Woman, have been instrumental in driving support for this legislation. Both have testified in Texas and across the country, sharing personal accounts of harm caused when men self-identify into women-only sports and spaces.

LEFT: Amie Ichikawa at the Texas Senate RIGHT: Amie Ichikawa joined by Independent Women’s Network Austin Chapter Leader Michelle Evans

Earlier this month, Amie Ichikawa testified before the Texas Senate State Affairs Committee in strong support of legislation that safeguards the privacy, dignity, and equal opportunities of women and girls across Texas.

About the importance of SB 8 for the protection of women’s spaces, Amie Ichikawa said: “SB 8 does not take away anyone’s rights—it simply ensures women and girls retain their long-recognized right to safety, dignity, and privacy in restrooms, shelters, prisons, and other vulnerable spaces. Texans know this is about discrimination, fairness, and common sense.”

Polling underscores the broad support for such protections: 91% of Americans agree that when it comes to prisons, there are important reasons to separate the sexes.

Payton McNabb, speaking to her own experience on the importance of privacy and safety, added, “Texas has already taken two important steps: one, protecting women’s sports; and two defining sex-based words. However, SB 8 matters because it completes the protections women and girls unfortunately now need to establish in law and that is their right to single-sex spaces, whether on the playing field, in locker rooms, or in restrooms. Without these protections, women are forced to surrender both fairness and safety. When biological males are allowed in women’s private spaces, it is women who pay the price.” 

Amie Ichikawa previously testified alongside Riley Gaines and Payton McNabb in support of House Bill 229, and earlier this month she testified in support of Texas Women’s Privacy Act.

See more of Independent Women’s advocacy in Texas below:

For media inquiries or to book Payton McNabb and/or Amie Ichikawa, please email [email protected].

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Independent Women fights for women by expanding support for policy solutions that aren’t just well-intended, but actually preserve and advance opportunity and well-being.