(The Center Square)— Arizona Sen. John Kavanagh is reintroducing legislation related to students who identify as transgender.
Senate Bill 1002 would require school employees to call a student by the pronouns that correlate with their sex unless a parent gives explicit permission in writing that another set of pronouns can be used. The bill also says that the rule would also apply to using a different name than what’s listed unless it’s a “commonly associated” nickname.
In addition, the bill assure no employee or contractor is forced to go by the students preferred pronouns that go in contrary to their sex if it conflicts with one’s “religious or moral convictions.”
Meanwhile, Senate Bill 1003 is labeled a “reasonable accommodation” bill to require a separate restroom or “changing facility” to be available for students who identify differently from their sex, but it would prevent them from using the restroom of the opposite sex if “persons of the opposite sex are present or could be present.” The accommodation could include either a “single-occupancy restroom or changing facility” or a restroom used by staff.
The bills are similar to legislation put forth by the Fountain Hills Republican in previous sessions, including Senate Concurrent Resolution 1013 in 2024, Senate Bill 1166, Senate Bill 1001 and Senate Bill 1182 in 2023.
“Now, I ran this bill originally last year where it would’ve required parental permission to use a pronoun other than that aligned with the gender at birth,” Kavanagh told The Center Square in February with SB1166, which ended up being held in the House. “The governor vetoed that, so this year I’m coming back and saying, ‘Well, okay, maybe you’ll respect the parents’ right to know and require that.'”
Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed SB1001 in May 2023 and explained her strong opposition to the legislation, writing that she would “veto every bill that aims to attack and harm children.”
“I would like to reemphasize their words to all the young people of the state, ‘You have every right to be who you are,’” she wrote.
