HF2685

Purpose of the Bill

The primary aim of this bill is to establish requirements for school athletic teams in Minnesota by mandating that they be designated based on students' biological sex at birth. This applies to interscholastic, intramural, and club sports teams.

Main Provisions

• Team Designation: The bill requires that all school-sponsored athletic teams be categorized based on biological sex at birth. Teams must be designated as:

  • Male teams, composed exclusively of students identified as male at birth.
  • Female teams, comprised solely of students identified as female at birth.
  • Coed teams, which can include students of any biological sex.

• Participation:

  • Only students who were biologically female at birth can participate in teams designated for females. This restricts participation in female teams, excluding transgender females who were not biologically identified as female at birth.

Significant Changes

• The bill introduces a new subdivision to the existing Minnesota Statutes section 123B.49, specifically concerning the designation and composition of athletic teams.
• It establishes a legal basis for schools to restrict participation in female athletics to those identified as female by biological birth, thereby affecting the inclusion of transgender athletes in sports teams that align with their gender identity.

Relevant Terms

• Biological sex at birth
• Athletic team designation
• Interscholastic
• Intramural
• Club sports
• Coed teams
• Transgender athletes
• Gender identity