austin texas group texas business leaders urge state lawmakers monday abandon plan pass bill restrict bathroom access transgender people call measure bad economy republican-dominated legislature begin 30-day special session tuesday 20 items agenda include one bathroom bill flashpoint u.s. culture war supporter legislation say common-sense measure protect public safety critics call discriminatory texas powerful republican-controlled state could lose 5.6 billion 2026 businesses could find difficult recruit top talent measure enact accord state lead employer organization distraction bathroom bill pull us away competitive state jeff moseley chief executive texas association business tell rally outside capitol discussion conservatives disagree conservatives say moseley whose group typically align state republican leaders legislation restrict access place like bathrooms locker room base gender list people birth certificate gender identify similar law north carolina partially repeal march prompt relocation sport events economic boycott estimate cost state hundreds millions dollars stake high texas economy large russia bill similar north carolina pass texas senate regular session kill pro-business republican leaders house run clock measure bathroom bill main backer republican lieutenant governor dan patrick social conservative set state senate legislative agenda say economic losses would inconsequential texas republican majority want maintain separate restrooms locker room shower facilities men women boys girls care media think politically incorrect political campaign say statement monday republican house representatives speaker joe straus company include ibm american airlines apple southwest airlines speak bill bathroom bill real compromise even mild bill go interpret discriminatory say mark jones political science professor rice university houston texas business leaders call lawmakers drop 'bathroom bill