House Committee Approves Protect All Students Act

COLUMBUS – The House Higher Education Committee passed House Bill 183, the Protect All Students Act, sponsored by State Representatives Adam Bird (R-New Richmond) and Beth Lear (R-Galena).

The legislation will protect all students in Ohio schools. It requires public and chartered nonpublic schools, educational service centers, and institutions of higher education to designate specified facilities for the exclusive use of students of either the male biological sex or the female biological sex.

“The bottom line of this legislation is to protect students. I don’t see that as a controversial issue,” said Bird. “Many Ohioans don't want their local schools to allow the opposite sex into a restroom or locker room. The Protect All Students Act will eliminate difficult situations for school leaders and will create consistent policies across the state.”

“We are grateful to the House Higher Education Committee for doing what is right and what is best for all Ohio students in Kindergarten through college,” said Lear. “The Protect All Students Act, originally drafted by former State Representative Kris Jordan, will keep our children safe from exposure to the opposite sex while in private spaces like restrooms, locker rooms, and overnight accommodations.”

The bill sponsors introduced this legislation because they heard from many Ohioans who are concerned about their local schools allowing the opposite sex into restrooms and locker rooms or sharing overnight accommodations that are designed for multiple students. School leaders and parents across Ohio requested the protections.

The Protect All Students Act now moves to the House floor for additional consideration.