Bill > S516

This bill introduces the Women's Safety and Protection Act, which primarily focuses on defining biological sex and gender terms in North Carolina's statutes and establishing new regulations for sex-specific facilities in public institutions. The bill provides strict definitions of biological sex, male, female, man, woman, and other related terms, emphasizing biological reproductive characteristics. It mandates that single and multiple occupancy restrooms, changing facilities, and sleeping quarters in covered facilities (like schools, prisons, domestic violence centers, and juvenile detention facilities) can only be used by individuals matching the facility's designated biological sex at a time. The legislation creates a legal framework that allows individuals to file civil actions if these provisions are violated, with potential remedies including injunctive relief, damages, and attorneys' fees. Additionally, the bill modifies birth certificate and driver's license regulations to require sex designation based on biological birth characteristics, removing previous provisions that allowed sex changes based on surgical procedures. The bill applies an "intermediate scrutiny" standard, which means distinctions between biological sexes are permitted when there is a significant governmental interest in protecting women's safety and privacy. The provisions are set to become effective on October 1, 2025, and include a severability clause to ensure that if any part of the act is found invalid, the remaining provisions can still be enforced.

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/S516