WisconsinColleges and schools would classify sports by participants’ birth sex
The failed measure would have required university, technical college, and school district sports and locker rooms to follow biological-sex designations based on birth records.
What it does
University and technical college sports would be labeled men’s, women’s, or coed based on participants’ biological sex, with limits on participation in women’s sports.
Campus locker rooms and showers would be reserved for one biological sex, while allowing temporary event changes, listed work or emergency access, and requested accommodations.
School districts would reserve each school locker room for one biological sex and could change that assignment temporarily for special events.
Argument forClear team labels and participation rules could make athletic eligibility easier for students and schools to understand.
Argument againstStudents who do not meet a team’s biological-sex designation could lose access to that sport and may need to pursue court action.
More detail
University and technical college athletic programs would have to label each intercollegiate or club sport as men’s, women’s, or coed based on participants’ biological sex. The rule would cover institutions in the University of Wisconsin System and technical college system that operate or sponsor intercollegiate or club sports. Biological sex would mean being male or female at birth as shown on a person’s original birth certificate. Students of the male biological sex could not participate on a sport or team labeled for females or women. Institutions changing a sport’s designation would have to give written notice to students eligible under both the old and new designations. Female students harmed by a violation could seek court orders, damages, or other relief. Institutions could also sue certain organizations for harm caused by following the participation rule.
University and technical college governing boards would have to assign each campus locker room for the exclusive use of people of one biological sex. The rule would cover locker rooms and shower rooms in campus buildings used by more than one student at a time. Special-event policies could temporarily assign a locker room to the opposite biological sex, but the room would then return to its regular designation. Limited entry by people of the opposite biological sex could be allowed for work duties, medical help, emergencies, child or disability assistance, and other listed purposes. A student who submits a written request for an accommodation would have to receive a reasonable option, such as a single-occupancy locker room or regulated use of a staff locker room. The rule would not prevent policies needed to accommodate people protected by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.
School district boards would have to assign each school locker room for the exclusive use of people of one biological sex. The rule would cover locker rooms and shower rooms in school buildings controlled by a district board. District boards could temporarily assign a locker room to the opposite biological sex for special events, including athletic events, but would then have to restore its regular designation. The supplied text allows listed exceptions for custodial, maintenance, inspection, medical, employment, police, emergency medical, and child-assistance purposes; the available excerpt ends before the full exception list.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 13Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82Latest
- May 12Placed on calendar 5-12-2026 pursuant to Joint Rule 82 (2)(a)
- Mar 31Report vetoed by the Governor Tony Evers on 3-31-2026Major
- Mar 26Presented to the Governor on 3-26-2026To Governor
- Feb 16Report correctly enrolled on 2-16-2026Minor
- Feb 12Received from Senate concurred inMinor
- Feb 11Ordered immediately messaged
- Vote recorded CONCURRENCE. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 11Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 18, Noes 15Passed Senate
- Feb 11Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
- Feb 11Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Feb 11Read a second timeMinor
- Feb 9Placed on calendar 2-11-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Jan 16Available for scheduling
- Vote recorded Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Government Operations, Labor and Economic Development, Ayes 3, Noes 2. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 16Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Government Operations, Labor and Economic Development, Ayes 3, Noes 2Minor
- Jan 16Executive action taken
- Jan 14Public hearing held
- 2025
- Mar 21Read first time and referred to committee on Government Operations, Labor and Economic DevelopmentMinor
- Mar 20Received from AssemblyMinor
- Vote recorded PASSAGE. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 20Ordered immediately messaged
- Mar 20Read a third time and passed, Ayes 50, Noes 43Passed Assembly
- Mar 20Rules suspended
- Mar 20Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Mar 20Assembly Amendment 1 adoptedMajor
- Mar 20Read a second timeMinor
- Mar 18Placed on calendar 3-20-2025 by Committee on Rules
- Mar 13Referred to committee on RulesMinor
- Vote recorded Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Colleges and Universities, Ayes 7, Noes 4. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Colleges and Universities, Ayes 7, Noes 4. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 13Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Colleges and Universities, Ayes 7, Noes 4Minor
- Mar 13Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Colleges and Universities, Ayes 7, Noes 4Minor
- Mar 13Executive action taken
- Mar 11Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative DittrichMinor
- Mar 11Public hearing held
- Mar 3Read first time and referred to Committee on Colleges and UniversitiesMinor
- Mar 3Introduced by Representatives Dittrich, Knodl, Allen, Armstrong, Behnke, Brooks, Callahan, Donovan, Duchow, Goeben, Green, Gundrum, Gustafson, B. Jacobson, Kreibich, Krug, Maxey, Moses, Murphy, Mursau, Nedweski, O'Connor, Penterman, Piwowarczyk, Sortwell, Steffen, Tusler, VanderMeer and Wichgers; cosponsored by Senators Hutton, Felzkowski, Feyen, Jacque, Kapenga, Nass, Quinn, Testin, Tomczyk and WanggaardIntroduced
EducationCivil Rights & VotingEmergency Management