School Bathrooms Designated To Sex Assigned At Birth Under House-Passed Bill

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 09/04/2025) Rep. Joseph Fox (R-Fremont)’s HB 4024 to require schools to enforce individuals to only use the restroom or locker room of their sex assigned at birth passed the House Thursday, 58-46.

Reps. Fox, Josh Schriver (R-Oxford) and Brad Paquette (R-Niles) all gave floor speeches in favor of the bill.

Paquette said males designated by sex on birth certificates should be confined to the spaces of their sex.

“Those who have been misled to believe they have gender identity disorder should not be invading the spaces of little girls in this state,” Paquette said.

Rep. Helena Scott (D-Detroit) spoke next in opposition to the bill. She said it goes against the Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA) by denying individuals from spaces based on their gender identity, which was outlawed under an expansion to statute last term.

“As lawmakers, it is our responsibility to protect the rights of Michiganders, most certainly including those of our kids and students. This legislation defies that very important responsibility by rolling back rights and eroding discrimination protections outlined in ELCRA,” Scott said.

She also pointed out that enforcement is nearly impossible, and called this bill a distraction from a lack of funding that has been passed by the Legislature. She was gaveled down for not staying on the topic of the bill. Scott was recognized once more and gaveled down again.

Schriver was recognized next to give his floor speech, but Scott finished hers without a microphone. As she wrapped up, members of the Democratic caucus applauded, which happened to coincide with Schriver beginning his floor speech.

“Thank you,” Schriver said to those applauding.

Schriver said having to vote on a bill like this demonstrates how far society has fallen.

“For all of history, it was simply understood that boys and girls use separate facilities, that privacy and modesty matter and that it is the duty of adults to protect children from confusion and harm,” Schriver said.

He said he wouldn’t argue the science of what makes a woman a woman, stating that the question has been settled and won’t be changed by political theory.

Schriver said the bill was about protecting children in the spaces where they are the most vulnerable.

Finally, Fox said there is no desire in his heart to engender shame. Rather, he wants to ensure that every student is dignified and protected from harm.

“Right now, as I speak, students are not safeguarded from acts of sexual violence, violations of privacy and other unspeakable harms that can and do take place when biological males and females mix in bathrooms,” Fox said.

Fox said as elected protectors of Michiganders, he is disheartened that parents have been left powerless, school personnel constrained, and children vulnerable to evil and brokenness in the world.