Idaho bill would criminalize trans people using bathrooms in private businesses

The Guardian US News
by Associated Press
March 26, 2026
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3 min read

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The Bottom Line

Idaho bill would criminalize transgender people using bathrooms matching their gender identity in private businesses.

How This Affects You

If enacted, Idaho residents and businesses could face criminal liability for bathroom access decisions, and transgender individuals could face prosecution for using facilities matching their gender identity in private commercial spaces.

AI Summary

Idaho lawmakers are considering legislation that would criminalize transgender people for using bathrooms matching their gender identity, extending the restriction into privately owned businesses—a significant expansion beyond existing state bathroom laws. At least 19 states already ban transgender bathroom use aligned with gender identity in schools and some public facilities, but only three states (Florida, Kansas, and Utah) currently criminalize violations in any context. Idaho's proposed bill would be among the broadest such measures, targeting bathroom use in private commercial spaces where business owners currently retain discretion over their facilities. The legislation reflects an intensifying national push to restrict transgender access to facilities, moving beyond public institutions into private enterprise.

What's Being Done

Idaho lawmakers are considering the legislation; it has not yet passed.

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