# Virginia SB1079: Elementary and secondary schools; athletics, participation in female sports, civil cause of action.

Virginia SB1079, Elementary and secondary schools; athletics, participation in female sports, civil cause of action., is a 2025 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Mark J. Peake (Republican); status failed, last action 2025-01-23 (Passed by indefinitely in Education and Health (9-Y 6-N)) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1079-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB1079
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Elementary and secondary schools; athletics, participation in female sports, civil cause of action.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-07
- Last action: 2025-01-23, Passed by indefinitely in Education and Health (9-Y 6-N)
- Sponsor: Mark J. Peake (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Public Education
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 1 (9 yes, 6 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Elementary and secondary schools; athletics; participation in female sports; civil cause of action. Requires each public elementary or secondary school and each private elementary or secondary school that competes in sponsored athletic events against such public schools to designate all athletic teams and intramural athletic teams sponsored by such school based on biological sex as follows: (i) as "males," "men," or "boys"; (ii) as "females," "women," or "girls"; or (iii) as "coed" or "mixed" if such team is open to participation by (a) males, men, or boys and (b) females, women, or girls. The bill prohibits any student whose biological sex is male and who has not physically transitioned to female prior to puberty from participating on any school athletic team or squad designated for "females," "women," or "girls." Finally, the bill creates a civil cause of action for students and schools that suffer harm as a result of a violation of the provisions of the bill, provided that such action is initiated within two years of the harm occurring.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Mark J. Peake (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-01-23 | Senate | Passed by indefinitely in Education and Health | pass | 9 | 6 |   |

## Actions (4)

- 2025-01-23: Passed by indefinitely in Education and Health (9-Y 6-N) (Senate)
- 2025-01-16: Assigned Education sub: Public Education (Senate)
- 2025-01-07: Referred to Committee on Education and Health (Senate)
- 2025-01-07: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25104002D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Introduced, 2025-01-07: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1017767.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1017766.PDF)

## Related bills

- HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care. (adopted)
- SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty. (failed)
- HB1746: Public safety officer; definition. (failed)
- HB1600: Budget Bill. (failed)
- SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility. (failed)
- HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for infertility treatment. (to governor)

## Sources
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1017767.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1017766.PDF)

## Related
- [HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HR671-2025)
- [SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB941-2025)
- [HB1746: Public safety officer; definition.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1746-2025)
- [HB1600: Budget Bill.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1600-2025)
- [SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1449-2025)
- [HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for i…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1609-2025)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1079-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).