Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed a bill on Nov. 27 prohibiting students from kindergarten through college from using bathrooms that do not align with their sex.
Rep. Adam Bird (R-Ohio), who co-sponsored the bill titled “Protect All Students Act” with Rep. Beth Lear (R-Ohio), praised DeWine’s decision to sign the bill, stating that he’s grateful students will now not have to be concerned about students of the opposite sex coming into restrooms, locker rooms, and changing rooms in Ohio.
Bird said the law also applies to any place where school-sponsored activities are being held. The law will go into effect in February 2025.
“Institutions of higher education, including state universities, community and technical colleges, and both private nonprofit and for-profit career colleges, must use clear signage for these designations to ensure clarity for students and staff,” Bird said.
He said Ohio is the 14th state that passed privacy legislation for student bathrooms.
“This legislation has always been about protecting students, and I think that’s something we should all be able to agree on,” Bird said in an earlier statement. “Many Ohioans don’t want their local schools to allow opposite-sex access to restrooms or locker rooms. The Protect All Students Act will provide clarity and a unified approach for school leaders statewide.”
DeWine didn’t comment on the signing of the bill.
In January, the Republican-led state Senate overrode DeWine’s veto of a bill that banned gender-altering surgeries and hormone therapies for children under 18. It also prohibited students from playing on sports teams opposite of their sex.
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