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Editor's note: This story has been updated throughout. The Texas Legislature appears to be at a stalemate on a “bathroom bill” that could push the legislative session into overtime. Refusing to go any further to regulate bathroom use for transgender Texans, House Speaker Joe Straus said Friday that the Senate can take or leave a proposed compromise it passed on Sunday — to which Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick later responded with a resounding no. With the clock ticking on the legislative session, Straus said on Friday that the House will not appoint members to negotiate with the Senate on its proposed compromise on a “bathroom bill.” The Texas Tribune thanks its sponsors. Become one. “For many of us — and especially for me — this was a compromise,” Straus said at a Friday news conference . “As far as I’m concerned, it was enough. We will go no further. This is the right thing to do in order to protect our economy from billions of dollars in losses and more importantly to protect the safety...

AUSTIN — A controversial “ bathroom bill ” that was part of Gov. Greg Abbott’s agenda failed to pass during a special session but questions persist about whether it could return in a yet another called session .  A version of the proposal, which also foundered during the regular session, where it was a top priority for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, sparked opposition from corporate leaders from dozens of Fortune 500 companies, and projections from the Keep Texas Open for Business coalition that passing a bathroom bill could cost some $5.6 billion in statewide revenue loss through 2026. So-called “privacy” bills governing transgender use of restrooms not only polarized Texas residents , but also Republican lawmakers in Austin. University of Houston political scientist Brandon Rottinghaus said that moderate House Republicans , led by Speaker Joe Straus , R-San Antonio, “needed some extra oomph” to fight a bathroom bill and that big-business opposition “gave them the coverage...

In the end, the controversial bathroom bill went quietly.  For more than a year, Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick led the crusade for a state law to regulate bathroom use for transgender Texans — an initiative that resonated with social conservatives, including many pastors, who backed him up. Patrick for months stood firm in his pursuit for a bathroom bill even while similar campaigns in other states fizzled out.  He was met by loud opposition that only grew with time and eventually proved to be a considerable political force.  Transgender women, men and children from across Texas descended on the Capitol to testify about how the proposal — which would ban local policies that ensured transgender individuals ’ right to use public and school restrooms that match their gender identity — could endanger their lives. The business community rallied against the legislation too, giving House Speaker Joe Straus cover as he refused to negotiate with Patrick on bathroom restrictions.  That ...

Abbott did not respond to requests for comment on the dueling news conferences . His spokesman, John Wittman, said that despite tensions, the regular session is not over.  "The taxpayers deserve to have the Legislature finish their work on time," he said in a written statement. "Only the Governor can determine when or if there is a special session, and if so, what issues are addressed." Straus said he had not spoken with the governor about the House's bill, adding that the chamber on Saturday would take up the issue of property tax legislation , one of Abbott's and Patrick's other priority items. Nick Morrow, spokesman for  Human Rights Campaign , a  national LGBT rights organization , praised Straus for drawing a line in the sand. "Thousands of Texans oppose anti -transgender legislation," Morrow said. "We are glad to see Speaker Straus agrees that we need to stop wasting taxpayers ' time and money to pursue discrimination."