Stop the Invasion of Women’s Spaces Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 1017
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-02-05: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- Last Updated
- 2025-04-28T19:45:29Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The "Stop the Invasion of Women's Spaces Act" (H.R. 1017) aims to restrict access to single-sex facilities (such as restrooms, locker rooms, or changing rooms) based on an individual's biological sex, rather than gender identity. It seeks to protect these spaces for use by individuals of the corresponding biological sex by withholding federal funding from entities that allow otherwise.
Key Provisions
- Funding Prohibition: Federal funds cannot be provided (directly or indirectly) to any "entity" that permits an individual to use a single-sex facility on its property if the facility does not match the person's biological sex.
- Exceptions: The prohibition does not apply in cases involving:
- Emergency medical personnel responding to a medical emergency.
- Law enforcement officers pursuing a suspect or conducting an active investigation.
- Definitions:
- Biological sex: The biological classification of an individual as male or female.
- Entity: Broadly includes private organizations, non-federal government agencies or departments, and state, tribal, or local governments (or their subdivisions).
- Female: An individual with a reproductive system that naturally produces, transports, and uses eggs for fertilization (with limited exceptions for genetic or developmental anomalies).
- Male: An individual with a reproductive system that naturally produces, transports, and uses sperm for fertilization (with similar exceptions).
- Property: Any building, land, or real property owned, leased, controlled, or occupied by the entity.
- Single-sex facility: Spaces designated for use by one biological sex, specifically restrooms, locker rooms, or changing rooms.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- This bill would override or conflict with current interpretations of laws like Title IX (which prohibits sex discrimination in education and has been interpreted to include protections for gender identity in facility access) and other anti-discrimination statutes.
- It introduces a strict biological sex-based standard for facility access, potentially nullifying policies in federally funded entities that allow access based on gender identity or expression.
- The broad definition of "entity" expands the scope beyond just educational institutions to include a wide range of public and private recipients of federal funds.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: State, local, tribal, and non-federal agencies receiving federal funds (e.g., public schools, hospitals, or transit systems) may need to revise policies, enforce compliance, and risk funding loss if they do not, leading to administrative burdens and potential audits.
- On Citizens: Individuals whose gender identity differs from their biological sex (e.g., transgender people) could face restricted access to facilities, potentially increasing safety risks or discrimination. Those aligned with biological sex designations (particularly women) may experience enhanced privacy in single-sex spaces.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts are outlined, as the bill focuses on domestic entities and funding.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federally Funded Entities: Schools, universities, hospitals, businesses, and government bodies that receive federal money and operate single-sex facilities.
- Transgender and Gender-Nonconforming Individuals: Directly impacted by restricted access, potentially facing exclusion or legal challenges.
- Women and Girls: Intended beneficiaries through preserved single-sex spaces, though enforcement could affect all users.
- Law Enforcement and Medical Personnel: Exempted in specific scenarios, minimizing operational disruptions.
- Taxpayers and Fund Providers: Indirectly affected via reallocation of federal funds away from non-compliant entities.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Implications: The bill could lead to lawsuits under equal protection clauses (14th Amendment) or anti-discrimination laws, as it prioritizes biological sex over gender identity, potentially conflicting with Supreme Court precedents like Bostock v. Clayton County (2020), which extended sex discrimination protections to gender identity in employment.
- Constitutional Implications: Raises questions about privacy rights, due process, and freedom from discrimination; enforcement might require verifying biological sex, posing practical and dignity concerns.
- Political Implications: Positions the legislation as a response to debates on gender identity policies, likely sparking partisan divides; its referral to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform suggests focus on federal spending accountability, but broad definitions could invite challenges on overreach into state and private affairs.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2025-02-05: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- 2025-02-05: Introduced in House
- 2025-02-05: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Stop the Invasion of Women’s Spaces Act — issued 2025-02-05 — PDF (3 pages)