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SF2294 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Male participation in female athletics restriction provision, male access to female changing facilities restriction provision, and criminal penalties provision

AI Generated Summary

Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this bill is to restrict male students from participating in female-only athletic teams and accessing female changing facilities in educational institutions. It aims to define and enforce participation based on biological sex, as determined by the presence of X and Y chromosomes, to maintain fairness in female athletics.

Main Provisions

  • Definition of Male: The bill specifies that "male" refers to a person with one X chromosome and one Y chromosome.
  • Participation Restrictions: Male students are prohibited from trying out for or participating in female-only teams in educational settings. This applies to students aged 12 years and older or those in 7th grade and above. Violators are subject to a petty misdemeanor.
  • Youth Athletics Exceptions: For students aged 11 years or younger or those in 6th grade and below, teams should generally be co-ed unless one sex has been shown to have fewer opportunities, thereby allowing for sex-restricted teams.
  • Resource Equality: When athletic teams are separated by sex, they must be provided with equal resources, excluding revenue differences, and treated equally in other aspects, though joint practices are not required.
  • Wrestling Teams: The bill allows wrestling teams to be restricted to one sex, even if there haven't been limited opportunities for that sex, as long as both sexes have adequate opportunities to participate where interest is demonstrated.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

  • Amendment of Definitions: The bill amends the definition of sex for athletic participation, explicitly tying it to biological rather than gender identity.
  • Legal Penalties: Introduces a petty misdemeanor for male students participating in female-only teams.
  • Resource Allocation: Mandates equal treatment and budget for separate sex teams, ensuring fairness in resource distribution.

Relevant Terms

  • Male participation
  • Female-only athletic teams
  • Biological sex definition
  • Petty misdemeanor
  • Equal resources
  • Sex-restricted teams
  • Gender identity issues
  • Athletic opportunity disparity

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
March 09, 2025SenateFloorActionIntroduction and first reading
March 09, 2025SenateFloorActionReferred toEducation Policy
March 12, 2025SenateFloorActionAuthor added

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "A new definition of 'male' as a person with a heterogametic sex chromosome pair consisting of one X chromosome and one Y chromosome."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill amends the existing statute section 121A.04 regarding education and student participation in athletics.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarifies exceptions for discrimination in athletic programs for certain age groups and introduces penalties for male students participating on female-only teams."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "121A.04"
  }
]

Sponsors