Senate Republicans want Arizona voters to decide how transgender students should be treated in public schools.
The referendum would prohibit school employees from referring to a student by their preferred pronoun unless a parent approves.
It would also force schools to provide a single occupancy bathroom or changing facility for those who are unwilling or unable to use a space aligned to their gender at birth.
Republican Sen. John Kavanagh is behind the measure.
"Will it pass by 70% or 80% of the vote? Because we all know it will pass. Because our society has not gotten to that point where a sizable number of people think that you can will yourself to a different biological gender," Kavanagh said.
Opponents argue the proposal will invite scrutiny of children's bodies, expose public schools to lawsuits and turn educators into the gender police. If approved, the referendum will appear on the November ballot.
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