Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Thursday "helped unveil a legislative proposal that has much of the same intent" as North Carolina’s HB2 law but "appears to include the potential for exceptions for special events," according to Scott Gleeson of USA TODAY. The Texas bill (SB6) would ensure "that transgender people would have to use public restrooms and locker rooms assigned to their 'biological sex' on their birth certificate." However, it "contains language that would appear to make it possible for a private organization to determine the bathroom-usage rules at public facilities they rent -- the situation that occurs when, for instance, the NCAA signs an agreement to hold the Final Four at a facility such as the Alamodome, which is owned and operated by the City of San Antonio." The NCAA "made an emphatic statement against North Carolina's HB2 in September when it removed all of its championship events from North Carolina, stating the bill is contrary to the association's overall initiative for inclusion." Most notable "among upcoming NCAA championship events to be held in Texas is the women's Final Four in Dallas on March 31 and April 2." The men's Final Four is scheduled for San Antonio in '18. The FCS annually holds its championship game in Frisco. NCAA Dir of Public & Media Relations Stacey Osburn said that the association "had no immediate comment on the bill's introduction." After the NCAA's "move against HB2," the ACC "quickly followed suit." Should the NCAA "take similar action with SB6, the same domino effect might occur with the Big 12" (USATODAY.com, 1/5). In N.Y., Marc Tracy notes Houston hosts Super Bowl LI on Feb. 5, and it is "almost impossible for the NFL to move the sports world’s single biggest annual event." But the league has "penalized host cities before" (N.Y. TIMES, 1/6). Triple-A PCL Omaha Storm Chasers Owner Gary Green tweeted, "Texas is about to get the North Carolina treatment from sports & entertainment" (TWITTER.com, 1/6).
