AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- SAVE WOMEN’S SPORTS ACT (Mandates that athletic teams that are sponsored by a public school or a private school whose teams compete against a public school, be designated as (1) "males", "men" or "boys"; (2) "females", "women" or "girls"; or (3) "coed" or "mixed".)

S2790

2026 -- S 2790
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- SAVE WOMEN’S SPORTS ACT

Introduced By:
Senators E Morgan, Patalano, de la Cruz, Raptakis, Dimitri, Rogers, and
Burke

Date Introduced:
March 04, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Education
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Legislative findings. The general assembly hereby finds and declares that:
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(1) With respect to biological sex, one is either male or female.
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(2) A person's sex is determined at fertilization and revealed at birth or, increasingly, in
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utero.
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(3) Biological differences between males and females are determined genetically during
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embryonic development.
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(4) Secondary sex characteristics that develop during puberty generate anatomical
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divergence beyond the reproductive system, leading to adult body types that are measurably
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different between sexes.
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(5) There are inherent differences between men and women, and that these differences
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remain cause for celebration, but not for denigration of the members of either sex or for artificial
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constraints on an individual's opportunity.
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(6) In studies of large cohorts of children from six (6) years old, boys typically scored
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higher than girls on cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, and
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speed/agility, but lower on flexibility.
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(7) Physiological differences between males and females relevant to sports performance
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include a larger body size with more skeletal-muscle mass, a lower percentage of body fat, and
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greater maximal delivery of anaerobic and aerobic energy.
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(8) Men also have higher natural levels of testosterone, which affects traits such as

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hemoglobin levels, body fat content, the storage and use of carbohydrates, and the development of
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Type 2 muscle fibers, all of which result in men being able to generate higher speed and power
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during physical activity.
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(9) There is a sports performance gap between males and females, such that the
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physiological advantages conferred by biological sex appear, on assessment of performance data,
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insurmountable.
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(10) While classifications based on sex are generally disfavored, the Supreme Court has
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recognized that sex classifications may be used to compensate women for particular economic
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disabilities they have suffered, to promote equal employment opportunity, and to advance full
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development of the talent and capacities of our Nation's people. One place where sex classifications
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allow for the full development of the talent and capacities of our Nation's people is in the context
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of sports and athletics.
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(11) Courts have recognized that the inherent, physiological differences between males and
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females result in different athletic capabilities.
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(12) The benefits that natural testosterone provides to male athletes is not diminished
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through the use of testosterone suppression. A recent study on the impact of such treatments found
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that policies like those of the International Olympic Committee requiring biological males to
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undergo at least one year of testosterone suppression before competing in women's sports do not
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create a level playing field. Rather, the study found male performance advantage over females
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remains substantial and raises obvious concerns about fair and safe competition.
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(13) Having separate sex-specific teams furthers efforts to promote sex equality by
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providing opportunities for female athletes to demonstrate their skill, strength and athletic abilities
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while also providing them with opportunities to obtain recognition, accolades, college scholarships
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and the numerous other long-term benefits that flow from success in athletic endeavors.
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SECTION 2. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended by
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adding thereto the following chapter:
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CHAPTER 91.2
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SAVE WOMEN'S SPORTS ACT
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16-91.2-1. Short title.

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This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Save Women's Sports Act”.
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16-91.2-2. Definitions.

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As used in this chapter, the following words shall have the following meaning unless the
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context shall clearly indicate another or different meaning or intent:
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(1) "School" means:

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(i) An educational institution that provides instruction in any combination of kindergarten
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programs or grades one through twelve (12); or
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(ii) An institution of higher education.
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16-91.2-3. Interscholastic and intramural athletics - designation of teams.

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(a) Each interscholastic or intramural athletic team or sport that is sponsored by a public
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school or a private school whose students or teams compete against a public school shall be
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expressly designated as one of the following based on the biological sex of the students who
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participate on the team or in the sport:
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(1) "Males", "men" or "boys";
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(2) "Females", "women" or "girls"; or
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(3) "Coed" or "mixed".
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(b) Athletic teams or sports designated for "females", "women" or "girls" shall not be open
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to students of the male sex.
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(c) This chapter does not restrict the eligibility of any student to participate in any
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interscholastic or intramural athletic team or sport designated as being for "males", "men" or "boys"
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or designated as "coed" or "mixed".
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16-91.2-4. Adverse action prohibited.

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A government entity, any licensing or accrediting organization or any athletic association
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or organization shall not entertain a complaint, open an investigation or take any other adverse
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action against a school for maintaining separate interscholastic or intramural athletic teams or sports
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for students of the female sex.
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16-91.2-5. Cause of action.

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(a) Any student who is deprived of an athletic opportunity or suffers any direct or indirect
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harm as a result of a school knowingly violating this chapter shall have a private cause of action
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for injunctive relief, damages and any other relief available under law against the school.
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(b) Any student who is subject to retaliation or another adverse action by a school or an
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athletic association or organization as a result of reporting a violation of this chapter to an employee
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or representative of the school or the athletic association or organization, or to any state or federal
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agency with oversight of schools in this state, shall have a private cause of action for injunctive
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relief, damages and any other relief available under law against the school or the athletic association
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or organization.
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(c) Any school that suffers any direct or indirect harm as a result of a violation of this
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chapter shall have a private cause of action for injunctive relief, damages and any other relief
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available under law against the government entity, the licensing or accrediting organization or the

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athletic association or organization.
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16-91.2-6. Statute of limitations.

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All civil actions shall be initiated within two (2) years after the alleged violation of this
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chapter occurred. A person or organization that prevails on a claim brought pursuant to this chapter
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is entitled to monetary damages, including damages for any psychological, emotional or physical
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harm suffered, reasonable attorneys' fees and costs and any other appropriate relief.
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16-91.2-7. Severability.

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If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section, or part of this chapter shall be adjudged by any
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court of competent jurisdiction to be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, that judgment shall not
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affect, impair, or invalidate the remainder of this chapter but shall be confined in its operation to
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the clause, sentence, paragraph, section, or part directly involved in the controversy in which that
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judgment shall have been rendered.
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SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- SAVE WOMEN’S SPORTS ACT
***
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This act would mandate that interscholastic or intramural athletic teams that are
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sponsored by a public school or a private school whose teams compete against a public school, be
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designated as: (1) "males", "men" or "boys"; (2) "females", "women" or "girls"; or (3) "coed" or
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"mixed". It would prohibit athletic teams designated for "females", "women" or "girls" to be open
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to male students but would allow any student to participate in any sport designated as being for
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"males", "men", "boys", "coed" or "mixed". The act would also prohibit a government entity,
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licensing, accrediting or athletic organization from entertaining a complaint, investigating or taking
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adverse action against a school for maintaining separate teams for students of the female sex.
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Further, the act would allow private causes of action for damages sustained as a result of violations
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of the act affecting students and schools.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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