H.R. 28 · Where this bill is now
In the Senate
Passed the House Jan 14, 2025. Received Jan 15, 2025; no Senate vote yet
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryLimits transgender athletes in school sports
This bill would change how Title IX, the federal law that protects against sex discrimination in schools, applies to school sports. It would make it a violation of Title IX for schools that receive federal funding to allow students whose biological sex at birth was male to compete on teams designated for women or girls. The bill defines sex based on reproductive biology and genetics at birth. It does allow male individuals to train or practice with women's or girls' programs as long as no female athlete loses opportunities because of it.
How it affects you
This would directly affect transgender girls and women who play school sports, as well as schools that field athletic teams. Schools would need to follow this rule to keep their federal funding. The bill asks for a government report on how girls' sports might be affected by these changes.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Jan 3, 2025)
Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025
This bill generally prohibits school athletic programs from allowing individuals whose biological sex at birth was male to participate in programs that are for women or girls.
Specifically, the bill provides that it is a violation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 for federally funded education programs or activities to operate, sponsor, or facilitate athletic programs or activities that allow individuals of the male sex to participate in programs or activities that are designated for women or girls. (Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in federally funded education programs or activities, including in public elementary and secondary schools and in colleges and universities.) Under the bill, sex is based on an individual's reproductive biology and genetics at birth.
The bill does not prohibit male individuals from training or practicing with programs or activities for women or girls as long as such training or practice does not deprive any female of corresponding opportunities or benefits.
The Government Accountability Office must report on the benefits for women or girls in single-sex sports that would be lost as a result of male participation. In particular, the report must document the negative psychological, developmental, participatory, and sociological effects of male participation on girls.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 28
AN ACT
Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025
Sponsor: Rep. W. Gregory Steube (R-FL-17) · Introduced Jan 3, 2025 · Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues · 2 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Jan 15, 2025: “Received in the Senate.”
How Congress voted
Official roll callsHouse · On Passage · Jan 14, 2025
Passage Passed 218–206
| Party | Yes | No | Present | Didn’t vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 2 | 206 | 1 | 6 |
| Republicans | 216 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
2 members voted against most of their party: 2 Democrats voted Yes.
Congress votes on whole bills and amendments, not on single sections.