PIERRE, S.D.(KOTA)- South Dakota faces challenges this legislative session. From deciding how to spend hundreds of millions of dollars, to a crisis of funding for South Dakota educators.

But some lawmakers are more interested in toilets than the treasury – namely the discussion of transgendered individuals and their right to use a bathroom matching their gender identity, rather than gender on their birth certificate.

American Civil Liberties Union Advocacy Manager Jett Jonelis.

Jonelis said the trans community members share many of the same privacy concerns as anyone else.

Previously Jonelis has discussed how many of these bills are caught up in fear and misunderstandings about transgendered people.

This legislation, sponsored by Representative Fred Deutsch of Florence, narrowly passed out of the House State Affairs Committee on a 7-5 vote today, and moves to the House floor.

Jonelis said the ACLU of South Dakota was encouraged by how close the vote was.