Protection of Women in Olympic and Amateur Sports Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 1028
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Sports and Recreation
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-02-17: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 423.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-11T23:26:39Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation amends federal law governing amateur sports organizations to establish biological definitions of sex and require that males be barred from competitions designated for females, women, or girls. The stated goal is to protect opportunities for female athletes in Olympic and amateur sports.
Key Provisions
- Adds three new definitions to Section 220501(b) of Title 36, United States Code:
- "Female" refers to an individual whose reproductive system produces, transports, or utilizes eggs for fertilization (accounting for developmental or genetic variations).
- "Male" refers to an individual whose reproductive system produces, transports, or utilizes sperm for fertilization (accounting for developmental or genetic variations).
- "Sex" is defined strictly as an individual's biological sex, either male or female.
- Amends Section 220522 to add a new eligibility requirement: national governing bodies must prohibit any person whose sex is male from participating in amateur athletic competitions designated for females, women, or girls.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill updates the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act by inserting explicit biological definitions of sex and imposing a categorical exclusion based on those definitions. This represents a shift from prior law, which did not contain such sex-based eligibility mandates for amateur sports governing organizations.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: Affects the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and affiliated national governing bodies, which must revise eligibility rules or risk losing recognition.
- Citizens: Directly impacts female athletes by preserving separate competition categories; male athletes seeking to compete in female categories would be excluded.
- International relations: May create conflicts with international sports federations or the International Olympic Committee if U.S. rules diverge from global standards on transgender participation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Female athletes and girls in amateur and Olympic sports.
- National governing bodies for individual sports.
- The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee.
- Male athletes, including those identifying as transgender.
- Parents, coaches, and sports organizations operating under federal recognition.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The measure centers eligibility on biological reproductive capacity rather than self-identified gender or medical transition status. This approach may raise questions under the Equal Protection Clause regarding distinctions based on sex, though the bill itself frames the change as necessary to maintain fairness in female-designated events.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]
Cosponsors (73)
Rep. Clyde, Andrew S. [R-GA-9], Rep. LaMalfa, Doug [R-CA-1], Rep. Haridopolos, Mike [R-FL-8], Rep. Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1], Rep. Burchett, Tim [R-TN-2], Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24], Rep. Webster, Daniel [R-FL-11], Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22], Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4], Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15], Rep. Hageman, Harriet M. [R-WY-At Large], Rep. Baird, James R. [R-IN-4], Rep. Edwards, Chuck [R-NC-11], Rep. De La Cruz, Monica [R-TX-15], Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14], Rep. Zinke, Ryan K. [R-MT-1], Rep. Fulcher, Russ [R-ID-1], Rep. Babin, Brian [R-TX-36], Rep. Downing, Troy [R-MT-2], Rep. Aderholt, Robert B. [R-AL-4], Rep. Kustoff, David [R-TN-8], Rep. Buchanan, Vern [R-FL-16], Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5], Rep. Messmer, Mark [R-IN-8], Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12], Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3], Rep. Carter, John R. [R-TX-31], Rep. Timmons, William R. [R-SC-4], Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-9], Rep. Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-1], Rep. Hinson, Ashley [R-IA-2], Rep. Palmer, Gary J. [R-AL-6], Rep. Johnson, Dusty [R-SD-At Large], Rep. Ogles, Andrew [R-TN-5], Rep. Crane, Elijah [R-AZ-2], Rep. Franklin, Scott [R-FL-18], Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12], Rep. James, John [R-MI-10], Rep. Greene, Marjorie Taylor [R-GA-14], Rep. McCormick, Richard [R-GA-7], Rep. Hunt, Wesley [R-TX-38], Rep. Schweikert, David [R-AZ-1], Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1], Rep. Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19], Rep. Biggs, Sheri [R-SC-3], Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3], Rep. Alford, Mark [R-MO-4], Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8], Rep. Lee, Laurel M. [R-FL-15], Rep. Yakym, Rudy [R-IN-2] and 23 more
Recent Actions
- 2026-02-17: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 423.
- 2026-02-17: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 119-497.
- 2026-02-17: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 119-497.
- 2026-02-03: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 15 - 10.
- 2026-02-03: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2025-02-05: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2025-02-05: Introduced in House
- 2025-02-05: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Protection of Women in Olympic and Amateur Sports Act — issued 2025-02-05 — PDF (3 pages)
- Protection of Women in Olympic and Amateur Sports Act of 2026 — issued 2026-02-17 — PDF (6 pages)