AUSTIN, Texas — Several measures passed during the second special legislative session took effect in Texas on Dec. 4.

One of the most controversial, the so-called "bathroom bill" is now in effect. Senate Bill 8 is the "Texas Women's Privacy Act."

The law requires people in city and state owned facilities, public schools and universities, and jails to use the bathroom that matches the sex on their birth certificate.

Agencies that don't comply could face a $25,000 fine for the first violation and a $125,000 for each one after.

On Thursday, State Sen. Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston), who authored the bill, called it a win for women and children in Texas.

"This has been a priority of mine for many, many years and look, this is a lesson in persistence and grit because what this is about is p

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