austin texas republican-controlled texas senate give preliminary approval tuesday bill restrict bathroom access transgender people endorse piece legislation denounce civil liberties advocate discriminatory final senate adoption bill possible late tuesday wednesday measure would send state house representatives passage 30-day special legislative session end mid-august less certain despite republican majority body well preliminary vote senate 21-10 one democrat cross aisle vote republican majority favor measure senate bill 3. enactment texas most-populous republican-dominated state could give momentum socially conservative state additional action issue become flashpoint u.s. culture war texas measure require restrooms shower locker room public school state local government facilities must designate use persons sex state person birth certificate oppose gender identity measure also would overturn local ordinances affirm transgender bathroom right cities austin san antonio dallas supporters include republican lieutenant governor dan patrick staunch social conservative say propose bathroom restrictions promote public safety protect vulnerable women children momentum so-called bathroom bill stall early year similar law north carolina partially repeal march original law prompt boycott number athletic organizations businesses estimate cost state hundreds millions dollars opponents texas warn similar backlash state texas afford discriminatory act democratic senator borris miles say debate bill bill sponsor republican senator lois kolkhorst say solid evidence show enact bill would hurt state economy perhaps find one bill lead economic activity say business leaders socially progressive clergy police chiefs several major texas cities call lawmakers halt bathroom bill say protect public civil right group say already laws book protect people sexual assault voyeurism enactment sb would endanger transgender people prone victims violence texas senate previously pass bathroom bill regular legislative session end may measure die house pressure pro-business republicans texas house speaker joe straus moderate republican steer chamber agenda say measure unnecessary raise worry economic harm texas senate vote curb transgender access public bathrooms