Bill
Bill > HB158
PA HB158
PA HB158Providing for sport activities in public institutions of higher education and public school entities to be expressly designated male, female or coed; and creating causes of action for harms suffered by designation.
summary
Introduced
01/17/2025
01/17/2025
In Committee
12/16/2025
12/16/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2025-2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Providing for sport activities in public institutions of higher education and public school entities to be expressly designated male, female or coed; and creating causes of action for harms suffered by designation.
AI Summary
This bill, called the Fairness in Women's Sports Act, establishes rules for how athletic teams and sports are designated at public educational institutions in Pennsylvania. The bill defines "sex" based on biological reproductive characteristics and requires that all interscholastic, intercollegiate, intramural, or club athletic teams be expressly designated as male, female, or coed. Specifically, teams designated as "female" may not allow male-bodied participants, though students can participate in teams matching their biological sex or in coed teams. The legislation provides legal protections for educational institutions maintaining sex-separated sports teams and creates legal avenues for students to seek remedies if they are denied athletic opportunities or experience retaliation for reporting violations. Students can bring civil actions for injunctive relief, damages, and other legal remedies within two years of an alleged harm. The bill also protects schools from adverse actions by government entities, licensing organizations, or athletic associations for maintaining sex-separated sports teams. The act will take effect 60 days after its passage, and if any part of the bill is found invalid, the remaining valid portions will remain in effect.
Committee Categories
Education, Justice
Sponsors (51)
Barb Gleim (R)*,
Marc Anderson (R),
Jake Banta (R),
Scott Barger (R),
Stephanie Borowicz (R),
Jill Cooper (R),
Joe D'Orsie (R),
Gary Day (R),
Sheryl Delozier (R),
Joe Emrick (R),
Mindy Fee (R),
Wendy Fink (R),
Ann Flood (R),
Jonathan Fritz (R),
Marla Gallo Brown (R),
Mark Gillen (R),
Keith Greiner (R),
Charity Grimm Krupa (R),
Seth Grove (R),
Joe Hamm (R),
Lee James (R),
Tom Jones (R),
Rob Kauffman (R),
Joe Kerwin (R),
Roman Kozak (R),
Thomas Kutz (R),
Andrew Kuzma (R),
Robert Leadbeter (R),
Milou Mackenzie (R),
Kristin Marcell (R),
Steve Mentzer (R),
Eric Nelson (R),
Tina Pickett (R),
Jack Rader (R),
Kathy Rapp (R),
Brian Rasel (R),
Chad Reichard (R),
Jim Rigby (R),
Leslie Rossi (R),
David Rowe (R),
Alec Ryncavage (R),
Donna Scheuren (R),
Stephenie Scialabba (R),
Brian Smith (R),
Craig Staats (R),
James Walsh (R),
Ryan Warner (R),
Dane Watro (R),
Eric Weaknecht (R),
Martina White (R),
Dave Zimmerman (R),
Last Action
Re-referred to Judiciary (on 12/16/2025)
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