Prairie State Wire

A bill detailing specifications of public bathrooms and opening all public restrooms to people of all genders.  

HB1286 will be heard in the House Human Services Committee on the morning of Feb. 22.

The bill is sponsored by State Rep. Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville).

“Contractors could build bathrooms with stalls/urinals for men, women and children to use together,” Edwardsville resident Jennifer Korte, who lost a challenge to Stuart n the Nov. 2022 election, said on Facebook.

“For the safety of women and children, it is not a good idea for men to share private spaces with women and children. When asked if she talked about this bill with her constituents, Katie admitted she did not. This legislation benefits builders who want to save money on separate bathrooms.”

“Call her, file a witness slip AND email her.”

“Tell Katie what you think about this.”

The bill would require public accommodation for all-gender, multi-occupancy restrooms with signage.

The restroom also must be located next to other restrooms which also must be designated for all genders.

“As the nation continues to be swept along by the godless, nonsensical transgender wave, parents, grandparents, and concerned citizens of all stripes must stand up and say, ‘no further.’ Legislators may seek to advance laws that reflect the flavor of the moment, but as believers in a God who created man and woman in His own image and called them “good,” we can and must hold them accountable for anything that says otherwise,” Illinois Family said in a post.

Illinois Family said the bill has the potential to interfere with the religious rights contained in the First Amendment.

“Churches, synagogues, and mosques are not typically treated as places of public accommodation, however, if they rent their space for weddings or other events, they could run afoul of this legislation. For houses of worship that teach a view of gender that, until very recently, was not in question, freedom of speech and religion would come under threat. Churches, synagogues, and mosques could face having to decide between faithfulness to their religious texts and bowing to Springfield,” the group wrote.

Advocacy organizations are calling for concerned citizens to file legislation.

“PLEASE FILE YOUR WITNESS SLIP TO OPPOSE HB 1286 which will require ALL bathrooms become ALL GENDER!!!" Awake Illinois said in a tweet.

Witness slips are available HERE.

The bill’s synopsis provides calculations on “female-to-male ratio requirements” of such bathrooms.  

“Provides that when plumbing fixtures in a facility must meet female-to-male ratio requirements, each individual fixture in an all-gender multiple-occupancy restroom may be counted toward the required number of either female or male toilet stalls. Provides that if a fixture is counted toward the minimum required fixtures for females, that same fixture shall not also be counted toward the minimum required fixtures for males, and if a fixture is counted toward the minimum required fixtures for males, that same fixture shall not also be counted toward the minimum required fixtures for females. Provides that during any inspection of a facility by a health officer, health inspector, or building inspector, the health officer, health inspector, or building inspector may inspect the facility to determine whether it complies with the provisions,” the bill’s synopsis reads.