The Texas governor recently signed S.B. 15, known as the Save Women's Sports Act.
Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, signed the bill which prohibits transgender women from participating in college sports with cisgender women. According to Fox News, this law will go into effect after Sept. 1.
"Governor @GregAbbott_TX signs Save Women’s Sports Act into law!" Texas Governor's Office Communications Director Renae Eze said in a June 15 Twitter post. "He was joined by 5 courageous Texas female collegiate athletes. The integrity of women’s sports will forever be protected in Texas!"
In October 2021, Abbott signed House Bill 25, which is similar to S.B. 15 and requires student-athletes involved in K-12 school sports teams must compete on teams that align with their biological sex, Fox News reported. This new law extends that rule to college sports.
Texas college students will also have the ability to file a lawsuit against their school in the event of a law violation by a transgender athlete, according to Fox News. With the signing of S.B. 15, Texas joins 22 other states that have signed similar legislation into law.
"Today is an important day for female athletes across the state of Texas, including little girls who aspire to one day compete in college sports," Abbott wrote in a June 15 news release. "The Save Women's Sports Act protects young women at Texas colleges and universities by prohibiting men from competing on a team or as an individual against them in college sports. Sports have inspired many women to cast bold visions and dreams of what they want to achieve. The legacy of women's sports will be safeguarded for generations to come. Women in Texas can be assured that the integrity of their sports will be protected in our state."
"ICYMI: Governor Abbott sign SB 15 yesterday - the Save Women’s Sports Act - which will keep biological men from competing against women in sports at the collegiate level," Texas Rep. Jeff Leach posted on Twitter June 16. "I was proud to stand up and fight for this bill and am happy that it is now law in Texas!"
