Its not dead, but the most controversial bill of the 2017 session, the measure that would restrict transgender use of public and school restrooms, went on life support at midnight, due to Texas House rules, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
Midnight was the deadline for HB 2899, the House version of the 'Bathroom Bill' to pass the House State Affairs Committee to warrant a vote in the full House. The Committee held a hearing on the bill three weeks ago, but 'left it pending in committee.' When midnight struck and the Committee had not voted on HB2899, it died, according to the House web site.
Its high time, says Casandra Matej, who heads Visit San Antonio.
"That famous bathroom bill can impact our industry," she said.
In fact, a study by economist Ray Perryman indicated that the local tourism industry could expect to see losses in excess of $100 million if the bill were approved, due to cancelled conventions, loss of tourism revenue, and the potential loss of major sporting and arts events, conceivably even next spring's Final Four.
"We are staying in line opposing such legislation that could impact, and hurt, the third largest industry of San Antonio," Matej said.
The House bill differed from the Senate bill, which passed overwhelmingly in March and tied bathroom use to the 'birth certificate gender' of the individual. HB 2899 simply overturned Non Discrimination Ordinances in all cities which have approved them, including San Antonio, and held that the decision on public restroom use would be up to the state, not to cities.
The Senate bill, called SB 6, still has not been heard in the House, and it will die at midnight Thursday it a hearing is not granted.
But the House bill still did not win approval from the business and tourism industries, which were afraid of a North Carolina basklash.
The fate of HB 2899 is exactly what was predicted, that pro business House Speaker Joe Straus (R-Alamo Heights) would send the bill to a committee headed by State Rep. Byron Cook (R-Corsicana) where it would die in committee. Both lawmakers said publicly that the Bathroom Bill was unnecessary and would be bad for the state.
But under House rules, this doesn't mean that the issue is dead for the session.
It can still return as a 'zombie,' attached to another measure which is certain to win approval before the end of the session May 31.
Gov. Abbott has indicated support for the House version of the Bathroom Bill, but has not specifically said he would sign it.