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Legislative Updates
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LEGISLATIVE
Upcoming Bills
House and Senate bills will be posted here when the legislative session resumes. Please check back for updates.
"Securing Areas for Females Effectively and Responsibly Act"
The SAFER Act – S.B. 2753, sponsored by Senators Josh Harkins and Jeremy England
(H.B. 1428, sponsored by Rep. Celeste Hurst, was identical to Senators Harkins’ and England’s bill. H.B. 1428, which was double referred, passed the Public Property Committee, but was never brought up in the House Judiciary A Committee.)
WHAT THE BILL DOES
The SAFER Act does two simple things. First, it defines “Female,” “Male,” “Sex” and other related terms for all of Mississippi law. Second, it protects the privacy and ensures the safety of individuals in historically sex-separated, secured areas in public educational buildings, like single-sex changing rooms, restrooms, dorms, and sororities/fraternities:
Defines sex-based terms already used in Mississippi code.
Provides that persons with DSD conditions can be accommodated under state and federal law.
Declares Mississippi’s interest in protecting single-sex spaces.
Requires individuals who prefer to use single-sex private facilities in public educational buildings to use the one that corresponds with their biological sex.
Allows unisex facilities in public education buildings to be used by an individual of either sex.
Balances the privacy rights of individuals when they go to single-sex private facilities against the needs of others who can use a unisex facility.
Gives students required to live on campus the option to be housed in single-sex dormitory spaces.
Requires sororities and fraternities which maintain single-sex housing facilities at educational institutions to adhere to definitions of “male,” “female” and other related terms in Mississippi law with respect to such facilities.
Provides a private cause of action for violations of the law.
The Mississippi Attorney General can also bring lawsuits for violations of the law.
WHAT THE BILL DOES NOT DO:
It does not create any new rights for anyone.
It does not take away anyone’s legal rights.
It does not require public education buildings to incur any expense.
It does not require public education buildings to have both single sex and unisex private facilities.
Lesley A. Davis, J.D.
President and CEO
Mississippi Advocacy Group, LLC
601-573-4725
House and Senate bills will be posted here when the legislative session resumes. Please check back for updates.
"Securing Areas for Females Effectively and Responsibly Act"
The SAFER Act – S.B. 2753, sponsored by Senators Josh Harkins and Jeremy England
(H.B. 1428, sponsored by Rep. Celeste Hurst, was identical to Senators Harkins’ and England’s bill. H.B. 1428, which was double referred, passed the Public Property Committee, but was never brought up in the House Judiciary A Committee.)
WHAT THE BILL DOES
The SAFER Act does two simple things. First, it defines “Female,” “Male,” “Sex” and other related terms for all of Mississippi law. Second, it protects the privacy and ensures the safety of individuals in historically sex-separated, secured areas in public educational buildings, like single-sex changing rooms, restrooms, dorms, and sororities/fraternities:
Defines sex-based terms already used in Mississippi code.
Provides that persons with DSD conditions can be accommodated under state and federal law.
Declares Mississippi’s interest in protecting single-sex spaces.
Requires individuals who prefer to use single-sex private facilities in public educational buildings to use the one that corresponds with their biological sex.
Allows unisex facilities in public education buildings to be used by an individual of either sex.
Balances the privacy rights of individuals when they go to single-sex private facilities against the needs of others who can use a unisex facility.
Gives students required to live on campus the option to be housed in single-sex dormitory spaces.
Requires sororities and fraternities which maintain single-sex housing facilities at educational institutions to adhere to definitions of “male,” “female” and other related terms in Mississippi law with respect to such facilities.
Provides a private cause of action for violations of the law.
The Mississippi Attorney General can also bring lawsuits for violations of the law.
WHAT THE BILL DOES NOT DO:
It does not create any new rights for anyone.
It does not take away anyone’s legal rights.
It does not require public education buildings to incur any expense.
It does not require public education buildings to have both single sex and unisex private facilities.
Lesley A. Davis, J.D.
President and CEO
Mississippi Advocacy Group, LLC
601-573-4725
