IndianaHB 1041First Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2025)House

Student eligibility in interscholastic sports.

Sponsored By: Michelle Davis (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Summary

Requires, for purposes of interscholastic athletic events, state educational institutions and certain private postsecondary educational institutions to expressly designate an athletic team or sport as one of the following: (1) A male, men's, or boys' team or sport. (2) A female, women's, or girls' team or sport. (3) A coeducational or mixed team or sport. Prohibits a male, based on the student's biological sex at birth in accordance with the student's genetics and reproductive biology, from participating on an athletic team or sport designated as being a female, women's, or girls' athletic team or sport. Requires state educational institutions and certain private postsecondary educational institutions to establish grievance procedures for a violation of these provisions. Establishes a civil action for a violation of these provisions. Provides that state educational institutions and certain private postsecondary educational institutions are not subject to liability in a civil, administrative, disciplinary, or criminal action for acting in compliance with these provisions.

educationthe senateeducation and career development

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Students can challenge sports rule violations

Beginning July 1, 2025, students or their parents can file complaints, and covered colleges must maintain a process to resolve them. Students can sue a college when its violation costs them an athletic opportunity or otherwise harms them, directly or indirectly. Students who win may receive court orders and the greater of actual and consequential damages or liquidated damages up to $1,000. The $1,000 limit applies only to liquidated damages, not actual and consequential damages. Courts may also award court costs, reasonable attorney's fees, and other appropriate relief. Colleges cannot retaliate or take other adverse action against students for reporting violations or bringing these lawsuits.

New limits on college women's sports

Beginning July 1, 2025, covered Indiana colleges must label their teams and sports as male, female, or mixed. Students classified as male at birth, based on genetics and reproductive biology, cannot participate in female-designated teams or sports. The law covers sports organized, approved, or sponsored by state institutions that compete against state or private postsecondary institutions. It also covers private postsecondary institutions' sports that voluntarily compete against state institutions.

Colleges gain protection for following rules

Beginning July 1, 2025, covered colleges have legal protection when they act in good faith to follow the sports law. They are not liable in civil, administrative, disciplinary, or criminal actions for that conduct. This protects colleges while limiting claims against them over good-faith compliance.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Michelle Davis

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Chris Jeter

    Republican • House

  • Gary Byrne

    Republican • Senate

  • Joanna King

    Republican • House

  • Linda Rogers

    Republican • Senate

  • Robert Heaton

    Republican • House

  • Spencer Deery

    Republican • Senate

  • Stacey Donato

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 208 • No: 321

Senate vote • 4/3/2025

Third reading: passed

Yes: 42 • No: 6

Senate vote • 4/1/2025

Amendment #1 (Ford J.D.) failed

Yes: 9 • No: 39

Senate vote • 4/1/2025

Amendment #2 (Ford J.D.) failed

Yes: 10 • No: 39

Senate vote • 4/1/2025

Amendment #4 (Ford J.D.) failed

Yes: 9 • No: 40

Senate vote • 4/1/2025

Amendment #3 (Ford J.D.) failed

Yes: 9 • No: 39

House vote • 2/18/2025

Third reading: passed

Yes: 71 • No: 25

House vote • 2/17/2025

Amendment #5 (Hamilton) failed

Yes: 30 • No: 66

House vote • 2/17/2025

Amendment #4 (Gore) failed

Yes: 28 • No: 67

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor

    4/16/2025House
  2. Public Law 83

    4/16/2025House
  3. Signed by the President of the Senate

    4/9/2025Senate
  4. Signed by the President Pro Tempore

    4/8/2025Senate
  5. Signed by the Speaker

    4/7/2025House
  6. Returned to the House without amendments

    4/4/2025Senate
  7. Third reading: passed; Roll Call 334: yeas 42, nays 6

    4/3/2025Senate
  8. Amendment #4 (Ford J.D.) failed; Roll Call 316: yeas 9, nays 40

    4/1/2025Senate
  9. Amendment #3 (Ford J.D.) failed; Roll Call 315: yeas 9, nays 39

    4/1/2025Senate
  10. Amendment #2 (Ford J.D.) failed; Roll Call 314: yeas 10, nays 39

    4/1/2025Senate
  11. Amendment #1 (Ford J.D.) failed; Roll Call 313: yeas 9, nays 39

    4/1/2025Senate
  12. Second reading: ordered engrossed

    4/1/2025Senate
  13. Amendment #5 (Hunley) failed; voice vote

    4/1/2025Senate
  14. Senator Byrne added as cosponsor

    3/27/2025Senate
  15. Committee report: do pass, adopted

    3/27/2025Senate
  16. Senator Rogers added as cosponsor

    3/20/2025Senate
  17. Senator Deery added as cosponsor

    3/20/2025Senate
  18. First reading: referred to Committee on Education and Career Development

    3/3/2025Senate
  19. Referred to the Senate

    2/19/2025House
  20. Senate sponsor: Senator Donato

    2/18/2025House
  21. Third reading: passed; Roll Call 202: yeas 71, nays 25

    2/18/2025House
  22. Amendment #4 (Gore) failed; Roll Call 178: yeas 28, nays 67

    2/17/2025House
  23. Amendment #5 (Hamilton) failed; Roll Call 177: yeas 30, nays 66

    2/17/2025House
  24. Second reading: ordered engrossed

    2/17/2025House
  25. Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

    2/13/2025House

Bill Text

  • Enrolled House Bill (H)

  • House Bill (H)

  • House Bill (S)

  • Introduced House Bill (H)

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