Ohio Republican lawmakers have passed a bill that would prevent transgender students in K-12 schools and public colleges from using bathrooms or locker rooms that align with their gender identity. Governor Mike DeWine has signaled his intention to sign the legislation once he reviews the final language, which would make the law effective 90 days after his signature.
The legislation, Senate Bill 104, mandates that students must use bathrooms and locker rooms that correspond with the sex listed on their original birth certificates. This means that even if a birth certificate is later changed to reflect a student’s gender identity, it would not be considered valid under the new rule unless it was issued “at or near the time of birth.”
Originally introduced as House Bill 183 by Rep. Adam Bird (R-New Richmond), the measure was added as an amendment to an unrelated bill just before the legislature’s summer recess, drawing criticism from opponents who say it was a backdoor approach to passing a controversial policy.
DeWine’s office has confirmed his readiness to sign the measure into law, making Ohio one of the latest states to enact restrictions on transgender students’ access to facilities aligned with their gender identity.
