California Bill Defines Sex as Biological

A California Assembly member introduced AB 1998 to amend the Unruh Civil Rights Act so that businesses must separate intimate spaces (restrooms, locker rooms, etc.) on the basis of sex 'irrespective of gender identity or gender expression,' creating a statutory expectation of privacy tied to biological sex. The bill is likely to face legal and political challenges in California but signals a specific state-level strategy for addressing transgender access to facilities. — If enacted or litigated, the law would shape the legal definition of sex in public-accommodation law, force businesses to change policies, and sharpen national fights over transgender rights and privacy.