South Carolina has enacted a new law affecting bathroom, locker room, and housing access in public K–12 schools and public colleges and universities, following its signing by Governor Henry McMaster.
 |
| South Carolina enacts law restricting multi-user school facilities based on sex assigned at birth |
The legislation requires that multi-stall bathrooms, changing rooms, and similar shared facilities in public educational institutions be designated for use based on sex assigned at birth. The rules apply across school restrooms, athletic locker rooms, student housing, and also extend to overnight school trips and shared sleeping arrangements.
Under the statute, schools must also provide alternative accommodations for students who cannot or do not wish to use facilities aligned with their sex assigned at birth. These alternatives may include single-user restrooms, temporary exclusive access to existing facilities, or portable single-user units such as portable toilets or changing spaces.
The measure was passed earlier this year by the state legislature and has now been signed into law, placing South Carolina among a growing number of states adopting similar policies governing access to school facilities.
In response, the American Civil Liberties Union criticized the legislation, arguing that it would negatively affect transgender students. Jace Woodrum, identified as the organization’s first transgender executive director in South Carolina, said the law increases risks for vulnerable students.
“We all care about safety and privacy for students; this law isn't about that. This law is about making life harder for a small group of students who already face higher risks of bullying, harassment, and violence,” Woodrum said. “Transgender people have always been a part of our communities.
 |
| South Carolina enacts law restricting multi-user school facilities based on sex assigned at birth |
For decades, educators have ensured the safety and privacy of all students without banishing transgender young people,” Woodrum said. “Just ten years ago, the state’s Republican leaders considered laws like this to be unnecessary and harmful. Today, transgender people are an obsession for politicians who’d rather target vulnerable kids than solve the real problems we face.”
During legislative proceedings, the South Carolina Senate amended the bill to clarify implementation options for schools. According to the ACLU, this included provisions allowing temporary outdoor facilities for transgender students, which critics have characterized as portable restroom solutions.
“The South Carolina Senate has approved a bill restricting transgender students’ access to bathrooms and locker rooms, advancing legislation that reflects a widening shift in how Republican-led states are regulating the everyday lives of trans people and aligning with a growing number of Republican-led states adopting similar policies.”
The Senate passed the measure by a 35–2 vote, with two Democratic senators joining in opposition. The chamber is composed of 34 Republicans and 12 Democrats. The bill then advanced to the Republican-controlled House, where it continued through the legislative process before reaching the governor’s desk.
The legislation also codifies a policy previously implemented through the state budget and introduces enforcement mechanisms for noncompliance. School districts that fail to adhere to the requirements could face penalties, including reductions in state funding.
Supporters of similar measures nationally argue they are intended to protect privacy in intimate spaces such as bathrooms and locker rooms. Opponents, including civil rights advocates, contend they disproportionately affect transgender students and may contribute to increased discrimination in school environments.
The passage of the law places South Carolina within a broader national trend in which state legislatures have increasingly focused on regulating access to shared school facilities, extending beyond earlier debates over sports participation and gender-affirming care to everyday institutional spaces such as dormitories and bathrooms.