Business Group Claims Bathroom Bill Could Cost Texas Billions

Hours after Republican lawmakers unveiled Senate Bill 6, also known as the "Texas Privacy Act" or the "Bathroom Bill," a group called Keep Texas Open for Business slammed the legislation and claimed that Texas could lose billions if SB 6 is passed.

Keep Texas Open For Business, a division of the Texas Association of Business, claimed in a press release that SB 6 is "discriminatory, anti-business, and unnecessary."

Chris Wallace, President of the Texas Association of Business, was quoted in the press release saying Texas couldn't afford the consequences of SB 6:

Our communities, our families and businesses across this state face a far more uncertain future if this kind of unnecessary regulation is enacted here. We cannot afford the real human consequences and staggering economic impact of slamming the door on the Texas’ history of openness, competitiveness, economic opportunity and innovation.

Wallace's organization claims that if passed, Texas could lose more than 185,000 jobs and as much as $8.5 billion in GDP in the "first year" of SB 6. The organization pointed to this study from last year to predict what Texas could lose.

According to the Texas Tribune, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick's team dismissed TAB's study as "misinformation and fearmongering."