It now heads to the desk of Republican Gov. Spencer Cox, who has expressed support for the measure.
Marcie Robertson, a 20-year-old transgender Utah State University student and resident assistant, hugs her brother Ezra Robertson after speaking at a hearing on HB269, which pertains to privacy protections in sex-designated areas, in the Senate Education standing committee in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025.
The bill goes a step beyond existing laws in Utah and 11 other states that bar transgender girls and women fromat public schools, and in some cases other government facilities. It would be the first transgender restriction explicitly aimed at university housing, though some states have broad laws that could be interpreted to apply to dorms.
Utah State University sophomore Marcie Robertson, a transgender woman, was assigned to be the resident adviser for a women’s dorm and share a suite with freshman Avery Saltzman. After learning of Robertson’s identity, Saltzman requested and received a room transfer, then her mom posted about it online.
The bill’s Republican sponsor, Rep. Stephanie Gricius of Eagle Mountain, said it’s needed to support the privacy needs of female students. In the Senate, Sen. David Hinkins shared how he was once booted from housing approved by Brigham Young University, the Utah private school run by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for smoking and drinking alcohol in violation of the rules. The Republican from Ferron then found other housing, which he said is the appropriate action for someone who can’t follow rules or social expectations.
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