California Senate Approves Bill Making Single-Person Restrooms Gender Neutral

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - The California Senate is backing legislation to require single-person public restrooms to be gender neutral.

The Senate's approval in a 28-7 vote Thursday sends AB1732 back to the Assembly.

Democratic Assemblyman Phil Ting of San Francisco proposed the legislation amid a heightened national debate about the rights of transgender Americans. Ting says his bill would also help caregivers and parents with children of different genders.

The bill would ask inspectors and officials who enforce building codes to check restroom signs for compliance.

Critics have said the bill would inconvenience many more people than it would help because of messy men and dirty toilet seats.