CONCORD, N.H.- The Senate has backed legislation requiring separation of public bathrooms, youth sports teams and prisons by biological sex, despite the fact that Governor Kelly Ayotte vetoed a similar bill.

In a vote of 15-8 Thursday lawmakers approved House Bill 1442 which Sen. Daryl Abbas R-Salem, said was altered by the Senate and carved out an exception to the 2018 law that bans discrimination based on gender identity where there is a “compelling interest” to protect the public, and as expected the topic drew noticeable push back from the Democratic side of the isle.

The bill now heads back to the House who will decide whether to accept the changes or create a conference committee to work out differences between the two versions, however its chances of being vetoed remain strong due to the fact the Governor says the topic is already covered, as the state already limits youth sports teams to members of the same sex and she vowed to continue to defend that law, which has spawned a federal lawsuit.