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119-s-543119th CongressWALLET

Fair Play for Women Act

Sponsored By: Senator Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]

Introduced

Summary

Promote gender equity in school and college athletics by strengthening Title IX protections and forcing clearer, sport‑level transparency. The bill would tighten nondiscrimination rules, require annual training, and mandate public reporting to reveal gaps in opportunities and resources for women and girls.

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  • Students and families would get team‑level data on participation, spending, coaches, trainers, scheduling, and postseason access so they can see sex and race gaps at individual schools.
  • Elementary and secondary schools would submit annual reports on participants, expenditures, coach and trainer staffing, and event schedules and must make those reports available to students and parents by October 15.
  • Colleges and intercollegiate associations would report sport‑by‑sport revenues, expenses, scholarships, coach compensation and buyouts, counts of men practicing on women’s teams, and certify Title IX compliance.
  • Athletic associations and covered schools would provide annual employee training on the law.
  • Individuals could sue for violations and seek compensatory or punitive damages and attorney’s fees.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

9 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

Ban sex discrimination in K-12 sports

If enacted, State athletic associations and local school agencies could not discriminate by sex in elementary and secondary athletics. The ban would cover team rules, which sports are required for membership or championships, locations, facilities, and amenities. The rule would take effect upon enactment.

K-12 school sports yearly reports

If enacted, each coed elementary and secondary school that gets Federal money and runs sports must publish a yearly report on the prior school year. Reports must list enrollment by sex and race, team participants by sex/race/level, detailed spending by category, coach and trainer pay and counts, schedules and postseason results. Schools must make the report public by October 15 each year and give it to the Education Department within 15 days; the Secretary must post reports on a public site and issue guidance within 180 days.

Right to sue over sports bias

If enacted, people who try to play or have played covered school or college sports could sue in State or Federal court. Plaintiffs could seek compensatory and punitive damages, plus attorney and expert fees. This would apply to athletics run by colleges, state athletic associations, local school agencies, or intercollegiate associations.

Ban sex discrimination in college sports

If enacted, intercollegiate athletic associations and colleges that get Federal funds could not discriminate by sex in college athletics. The ban would cover team rules, competitions and championships, facilities, services or benefits, and how revenues or other benefits are shared. Findings of violations for college athletics would be tied to covered institutions of higher education.

Biennial nationwide equity report

If enacted, the Education Secretary would publish a national gender equity report no later than 2 years after enactment and every 2 years after that. The report would use college reporting data to show participant gaps, funding gaps, and trends, with results broken out by institution.

Enforcement and civil penalties yearly

If enacted, the Education Secretary would each year list schools and institutions that were not following Title IX or the Act in the prior year. The Secretary could impose civil penalties for past noncompliance. Entities noncompliant in 2 or more of the prior 5 years would have to file a plan to comply within 120 days and that plan would be public.

Annual Title IX training rules

If enacted, the bill would require annual training on this Act and Title IX rights for athletic staff and athletes. Colleges must ensure athletic staff get yearly training and give postsecondary athletes training from an expert who is not in the athletic department. Local school Title IX coordinators must provide athlete training at least once per year.

Expanded college athletics reporting

If enacted, colleges that get Federal funds must report sport-by-sport data each year. Reports must include participant counts (including club and intramural), scholarships and average amounts, revenues and expenses by sport, coach pay and buyouts, race and ethnicity data, and counts of men practicing on women’s teams. Schools must send the data to the Education Department by October 15 and publicly post it by February 15 each year; institutions must certify the data and how they meet Title IX participation tests.

Public list of Title IX coordinators

If enacted, the Education Secretary would make and publish a public list of Title IX coordinators. The list must include at least each coordinator's name, phone number, and email, and be on the same public site used for higher education reports.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]

CT • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]

    CT • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]

    WI • D

    Sponsored 2/24/2025

  • Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 2/24/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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