OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Toni Hasenbeck, R-Elgin, and Sen. Jessica Garvin, R-Duncan, today released a statement regarding the Women's Bill of Rights Executive Order signed by the governor Tuesday morning.

Hasenbeck and Garvin introduced House Bill 1449 and Senate Bill 408, the Women's Bill of Rights, in the Legislature this spring. The bills clarify how people of both biological sexes are treated under state law by defining 'sex' as a person's biological sex at birth and forbid unfair sex discrimination while allowing for recognition of the differences between sex on issues related to biology, privacy, safety or fairness.

"We are both immensely relieved to see the Women's Bill of Rights take effect in Oklahoma. Women must be protected in situations where they may be vulnerable, and inviting biological men into these spaces without the consent of the women present is unsafe, unwise and unjust.

Last interim, we saw the need for a clear distinction of biological sex in legal situations and worked together to file legislation in February to enact the Women's Bill of Rights.

While we are glad to see this policy take effect, we are disappointed the governor did not acknowledge the efforts of the female legislators who authored the policy, spent months rallying support for it, and invested hours before committees and on the chamber floor debating its merits."

Both bills passed their chambers of origin and remain eligible to be considered in the 2024 legislative session.