**Ohio Enacts Transgender Bathroom Ban for Students**

Ohio has instituted a significant change regarding restroom use for students. Republican Governor Mike DeWine has signed into law a mandate requiring students in the state’s K-12 schools, as well as colleges and universities, to use restrooms that correspond with their sex assigned at birth. This move positions Ohio among over a dozen other states that have enacted similar restrictions, according to the Human Rights Campaign.

The new law stipulates it is not designed to prohibit schools from constructing single-occupancy facilities and does not preclude someone of the opposite gender from entering a restroom to assist another person. Proponents argue that the measure addresses concerns around privacy and the safety of students. However, critics argue that the legislation exacerbates baseless fears about transgender individuals and may put them at greater risk of facing discrimination or violence.

Governor DeWine's office previously refrained from commenting on the bill ahead of its signing, though he has previously remarked on the necessity of examining the specific language of such legislation. "I'm for people, kids, to be able to go to the bathroom with the gender assignment so that they have that protection, but I'll have to look at the specific language," DeWine commented to reporters last summer.

This law is part of a broader trend led by Republican legislators across the nation focusing on transgender issues, encompassing health care, bathroom access, and sports participation. The 2024 legislative session has seen a surge of anti-LGBTQ bills, with hundreds being tracked by the American Civil Liberties Union. Notably, Governor DeWine has previously diverged from his party on at least one transgender issue: in December 2023, he vetoed a bill that aimed to restrict gender-affirming care for transgender youth, including puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgeries.