Roll Call! Senate Outlaws Single-User “Men’s” and “Ladies’” Rooms (30-0), 2018

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H.333 AN ACT RELATING TO IDENTIFICATION OF GENDER-FREE RESTROOMS IN PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND PLACES OF PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION
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Purpose: H.333 mandates that any single-user toilet in any public building or place of public accommodation be identified as “gender-free,” outlawing single-user “Men’s” and “Ladies” rooms in Vermont.
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Analysis: The “bathroom bill” caters to people who do not identify with their birth-sex and feel uncomfortable using public restrooms that have gender-specific signage, such as “Men’s”, “Women’s”, or silhouettes or other pictures depicting specific genders. The bill, therefore, makes it illegal for any public building or “place of public accommodation,” such as a restaurant or service station, to label single-use restrooms with gender-specific signage. “The Commissioner of Public Safety may inspect for compliance….”
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Those voting YES believe this is “no big deal,” and helps to make Vermont more welcoming to a broader range of people.
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Those opposed to the bill believe this is an example of government overreach; that is not the role of government to micromanage businesses in regard to how they must and must not label bathrooms provided for their customers’ use. Subjecting Vermont businesses to inspections, fines for non-compliance, and potential legal jeopardy with laws like this (as well as the cost and time associated with replacing current signs) furthers Vermont’s reputation as unfriendly to business. And, that this was a “solution is search of a problem” as nobody was being refused use of public restroom.
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Senate Journal, Wednesday, April 18th, 2018. “Was read the third time and passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment on a roll call, Yeas 30, Nays 0..” (Read the Journal, p. 728)