Breaking! Odessa Women’s Privacy Ordinance Approved! Council Makes No Changes
Odessa, TX – May 27, 2025: Tonight – As of May 27th, the Odessa Women’s Privacy Ordinance (Ordinance 2024-46) is now current law in the City of Odessa and enforceable! This ordinance was passed in November of 2024 but what some have said was lack of execution by the City after the ordinance was passed, led to confusion about whether or not the ordinance was actually in effect.
The Odessa City Council was scheduled to have a public hearing on this matter tonight (Agenda Item 13, Pages 158-163) and possibly make changes to or completely repeal Ordinance 2024-46. Instead, Mayor Cal Hendrick made an announcement, at the beginning of the Council agenda, that there would be a motion to table any action on the current ordinance, and by a voice vote, the motion to table was approved (it appeared by a unanimous vote), which means the current ordinance approved in November 2024 stays in effect. Mayor Hendrick said the Odessa City Council would wait and see what new state laws are passed on this topic during the current Texas Legislative Session before proposing any changes to the ordinance. The Odessa Women’s Privacy Ordinance makes it clear that men cannot enter women’s locker rooms, shower rooms, or restrooms in any government building or property, and penalties (Class C Misdemeanor) and private citizen causes of action can be enforced against such offenders.
Jonathan Saenz, President & Attorney for Texas Values released the following statement:
“The Odessa City Council vote tonight means that the safety and privacy of women and girls in the City of Odessa is finally fully protected. We thank the new leadership on the Odessa City Council for choosing toleave the November 2024 ordinance in place and completing the administrative process for the law to take effect and be enforced. The rest of Texas will soon follow their courageous leadership.”
After the Odessa Women’s Privacy Ordinance was passed in November of 2024, it appeared some official paperwork or process was not completed and the notice of the new ordinance was on posted in the local newspaper, as required by the City Charter Section 65. Click here for details. But last Wednesday, May 21, 2025, the Odessa Women’s Privacy Ordinance was published in the Odessa American local newpaper, and after five days the new law goes into effect (City Charter Section 65), Click here for details.
Odessa City Council first voted on this ordinance in October 2024 when Jonathan Saenz testified in favor of the ordinance. The vote was finalized, 5-1, in Novemeber 2024 during a meeting Jonathan Covey, Director of Policy for Texas Values testified in favor of the ordinance.
Texas Values has been the leading organization, for over a decade, in protecting the safety and privacy of women and girls in locker rooms and restroom facilities. Visit https://protectwomensprivacytexas.com/to learn more.
Members of the Texas Values policy team are available for comment. Contact Ashley at media@txvalues.org or 737-314-2450 (m) to schedule an interview.
###
About Texas Values
Texas Values is the largest statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to standing for faith, family, and freedom in Texas. More information is available at txvalues.org.