Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 28
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
- Status
- Passed House
- Latest Action
- 2025-01-15: Received in the Senate.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-11T02:08:18Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025 aims to clarify and enforce Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 in the context of athletics. It ensures that sex is determined solely by a person's reproductive biology and genetics at birth, preventing males from participating in athletic programs designated for females to protect opportunities and benefits for women and girls.
Key Provisions
- Prohibition on Participation: Any school, college, or other entity receiving federal funding cannot allow a person identified as male (based on birth biology and genetics) to join or compete in women's or girls' athletic programs or activities.
- Definition of Sex: Sex is defined exclusively by reproductive biology and genetics at birth, excluding considerations like gender identity.
- Scope of Athletic Programs: This applies to all athletic programs or activities, including those tied to team participation, such as practices, competitions, scholarships, or admissions.
- Limited Exceptions for Training: Males may train or practice with women's teams, but only if it does not displace or disadvantage any female in terms of roster spots, participation opportunities, scholarships, admissions, or other benefits.
- Required Study: The U.S. Comptroller General (an independent auditor for the government) must conduct a study on the "any other benefit" phrase in the training exception. The study will examine negative effects on girls from male participation, such as psychological harm, reduced participation, loss of scholarships, or exposure to harassment. A report with findings must be submitted to key congressional committees (House Committee on Education and the Workforce, and Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- This amends Title IX (which prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs) by adding new subsections (d) and (e) to Section 901. Previously, Title IX interpretations by the Department of Education allowed some transgender students to participate based on gender identity in certain cases. The bill overrides this by mandating a biology-based definition of sex for athletics, making it a direct violation to allow male participation in female-designated sports without the specified exceptions.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The Department of Education will need to update enforcement guidelines and investigations for Title IX compliance in sports, potentially increasing oversight of schools. The Comptroller General's office will conduct and report on the mandated study, influencing future policy.
- On Citizens: Female athletes in schools and colleges may gain protected access to single-sex sports, scholarships, and safe environments, but transgender individuals (particularly transgender females) could face barriers to participation, leading to exclusion from female teams. This might affect school enrollment or athletic opportunities for affected students.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it could influence U.S. alignment with global sports bodies (e.g., Olympics or international federations) that have varying policies on transgender inclusion, potentially sparking debates in international competitions.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Educational Institutions: Public schools, universities, and other recipients of federal funds, who must adjust athletic policies to avoid losing funding.
- Female Athletes and Students: Primary beneficiaries, protected from competition disadvantages, but potentially affected if training exceptions lead to indirect impacts.
- Transgender and Male Students: May face restrictions on participating in preferred sports categories, limiting their athletic involvement.
- Federal Oversight Bodies: Department of Education for enforcement; Comptroller General for the study; congressional committees for reviewing the report.
- Sports Organizations: School athletic associations and teams that organize programs under Title IX.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Implications: Could face challenges under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment (which requires equal treatment under the law) or Title IX itself, as critics might argue it discriminates against transgender individuals. Courts may need to interpret "reproductive biology and genetics" and the scope of exceptions, potentially leading to litigation similar to past Title IX cases on transgender rights.
- Constitutional Implications: Raises questions about balancing sex equality (protected by Title IX) with protections against gender identity discrimination, possibly conflicting with Supreme Court precedents like Bostock v. Clayton County (2020), which extended sex discrimination protections to include gender identity in employment but has unclear application to education and sports.
- Political Implications: Likely to fuel partisan debates on gender, biology, and fairness in sports, with supporters viewing it as safeguarding women's rights and opponents seeing it as exclusionary. The required study could inform future amendments or related bills, amplifying its role in broader cultural discussions on equity in education.
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 (83)
Rep. Walberg, Tim [R-MI-5], Rep. Estes, Ron [R-KS-4], Rep. Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9], Rep. Finstad, Brad [R-MN-1], Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3], Rep. Fulcher, Russ [R-ID-1], Rep. Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1], Rep. Ogles, Andrew [R-TN-5], Rep. Hageman, Harriet M. [R-WY-At Large], Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12], Rep. Crenshaw, Dan [R-TX-2], Rep. Gooden, Lance [R-TX-5], Rep. Meuser, Daniel [R-PA-9], Rep. Johnson, Dusty [R-SD-At Large], Rep. Brecheen, Josh [R-OK-2], Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8], Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4], Rep. Ciscomani, Juan [R-AZ-6], Rep. Foxx, Virginia [R-NC-5], Rep. Ezell, Mike [R-MS-4], Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14], Rep. Cammack, Kat [R-FL-3], Rep. Self, Keith [R-TX-3], Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5], Rep. Babin, Brian [R-TX-36], Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22], Rep. Fleischmann, Charles J. "Chuck" [R-TN-3], Rep. Kustoff, David [R-TN-8], Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12], Rep. Fitzgerald, Scott [R-WI-5], Rep. McCormick, Richard [R-GA-7], Rep. Aderholt, Robert B. [R-AL-4], Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3], Rep. Feenstra, Randy [R-IA-4], Rep. Webster, Daniel [R-FL-11], Rep. Davidson, Warren [R-OH-8], Rep. Ellzey, Jake [R-TX-6], Rep. Scott, Austin [R-GA-8], Rep. Bean, Aaron [R-FL-4], Rep. Green, Mark E. [R-TN-7], Rep. Zinke, Ryan K. [R-MT-1], Rep. Arrington, Jodey C. [R-TX-19], Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4], Rep. Comer, James [R-KY-1], Rep. Hudson, Richard [R-NC-9], Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15], Rep. Miller, Carol D. [R-WV-1], Rep. Huizenga, Bill [R-MI-4], Rep. Moore, Riley [R-WV-2], Rep. Biggs, Sheri [R-SC-3] and 33 more
Recent Actions
- 2025-01-15: Received in the Senate.
- 2025-01-14: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- 2025-01-14: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 206, 1 Present (Roll no. 12). (text: CR H126) (Roll call 12)
- 2025-01-14: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 206, 1 Present (Roll no. 12). (text: CR H126) (Roll call 12)
- 2025-01-14: On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 208 - 218 (Roll no. 11). (Roll call 11)
- 2025-01-14: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H139-140)
- 2025-01-14: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 28, the Chair put the question on the motion to recommit and announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Adams demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
- 2025-01-14: The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.
- 2025-01-14: Ms. Adams moved to recommit to the Committee on Education and Workforce. (text: CR H137)
- 2025-01-14: The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
- 2025-01-14: DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 28.
- 2025-01-14: Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 5. (consideration: CR H126-138)
- 2025-01-03: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2025-01-03: Introduced in House
- 2025-01-03: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025 — issued 2025-01-14 — PDF (6 pages)
- Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025 — issued 2025-01-03 — PDF (4 pages)