Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed legislation into law Thursday that will bar transgender women from competing in women’s collegiate track and field.
The measure builds on a 2021 Texas law that requires teams in public schools through high school «to be designated by the students’ sex assigned at birth.»
Senate Bill 15, called the «Save Women’s Sports Bill,» says intercollegiate athletes must participate on teams based on their biological sex or what is «correctly» on the student’s birth certificate.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Texas Governor Greg Abbott during a press conference on March 15, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
«Today is an important day for female athletes across the state of Texas, including the little girls who aspire to one day compete in college sports,» Abbott said Thursday via The Hill in Austin.
“This Act applies to any intercollegiate athletic competition sponsored or sanctioned by a public institution of higher learning that occurs on or after the effective date of this Act,” the legislation states.
The law goes into effect on September 1 at the earliest.
MOST AMERICANS BELIEVE TRANS ATHLETES SHOULD COMPETE AGAINST THOSE WITH THE SAME BIOLOGICAL GENDER: SURVEY
The legislation also says that the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board will adopt rules to give effect to the law, making sure that state and federal law «regarding the confidentiality of student medical information» is guaranteed.
«An institution of higher learning or intercollegiate athletic team…may not retaliate against any person for reporting a violation of this section,» the bill states.
An NCAA logo is displayed on a goal post prior to the Division III national championship basketball game between the Randolph-Macon Yellow Jackets and the Elmhurst Bluejays on March 19, 2022, at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Indiana. (Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
That suggests Texas college students will have a clear path to sue their schools if transgender athletes break the law.
During a signing ceremony Thursday, Abbott referred to transgender women and girls as «men» in her speech.
«The Save Women’s Sports Act protects young women at Texas colleges and universities by prohibiting men from competing on a team or individually against them in college sports,» she said, via The Hill.
TRANSGENDER ATHLETE, JUNIOR GENDER CHANGE BAN CLARIFIES OHIO HOUSE COMMITTEE
The NCAA had a policy that allowed transgender women to compete on women’s sports teams. However, he made a change last year that determines participation differently depending on the sport.
NCAA swimming witnessed perhaps the most notable story of transgender women in college sports when Penn’s Lia Thomas won an NCAA national championship in the 500-yard freestyle in March 2022. She became the first athlete openly transgender to win a Division I title, and was met with backlash.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott (Shelby Tauber/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Riley Gaines, who swam for Kentucky, earning All-American honors 12 times, has spoken about competing against Thomas and how Thomas had an advantage over her because Thomas was born a boy.
Gaines and Thomas have pushed their own agendas regarding transgender women in sports since their college days ended.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Texas is among 22 states that have passed laws preventing transgender athletes from competing in sports based on their gender identity, according to the Movement Advancement Project.