The bill is sponsored by Rep. Josh Bonner (R-Fayetteville).
Speaker Burns said The Riley Gaines Act protects the integrity and fairness of girls’ sports by preventing biological males from competing in women’s sports.
What is the Riley Gaines Act?
What we know:
Under the Riley Gaines Act, biological males would be prohibited from competing on sports teams designated for girls and women at the K-12 and collegiate level.
Separate changing facilities, bathrooms and/or locker rooms would be required for athletic events.
Athletic scholarships designated for women could not be awarded to biological males, and private schools that compete against public schools would be required to adhere to the standards set forth in the bill.
"This issue is simple, men don’t belong in women’s sports," said Speaker Burns.
"The Riley Gaines Act ensures that from now on in our state, young women who have dedicated countless hours, days, and years of their lives to become the best they can be in their sport will never be forced to face a biological male on the field, on the court, or in the locker room."
This legislation builds off of a prior House measure which was signed into law in 2022.
House Bill 1084 requires high schools receiving state funding to refrain from participating in or sponsoring athletic events unless the associations have an executive oversight committee.
HB 1084 also allows athletic associations to adopt policies preventing male students from competing in female-designated sports, which all member schools must follow.
