Jefferson County lawmakers help override veto to protect girls' sports

The bill would have become law July 1st

STATEHOUSE (May 24, 2022) – Jefferson County lawmakers today joined the majority of Indiana's lawmakers in successfully overriding the governor's veto of legislation protecting the integrity of girls' sports.

House and Senate legislators voted on Tuesday at the Statehouse to override the governor's veto of House Enrolled Act 1041, which prohibits biological males from competing in K-12 girls' sports in Indiana. State Rep. Randy Frye (R-Greensburg) said the vote came as part of technical corrections day, where lawmakers can take up any vetoes and fix technical errors in laws passed during the prior session.  

"Hoosier girls deserve to play on a team and compete on a level playing field, and this legislation will help protect those opportunities," Frye said. "Biological males would have an unfair advantage competing against biological girls based on their body composition. There's no doubt that some girls would be left standing on the sidelines and miss out on athletic experiences."

Indiana will join at least 16 other states that have similar laws on the books protecting female sports. State Rep. Jim Lucas (R-Seymour) said concerned parents reached out after an increasing number of biological males have dominated the national spotlight in girls' athletic events across the nation.

"This commonsense legislation simply protects fair competition in Hoosier sports by ensuring biological females compete against other biological females," Lucas said. "I'm proud Indiana took a stand and joined the other states that prevent girls from being robbed of athletic opportunities."

There are certain biological differences that give males an unfair advantage over females in sports, like greater muscle mass, bone density and cardio capacity. State Rep. Zach Payne (R-Charlestown) said the vote Tuesday was especially important as June marks the 50th anniversary of Title IX, which ensures women have an equal opportunity to play and compete in sports.

"I was disappointed in the governor's decision to veto this legislation protecting girls’ sports across the state," Payne said. "This is the right move to defend fair athletic competition and integrity in sports for our Hoosier girls."

In Indiana, a gubernatorial veto can be overridden with a constitutional majority vote in both chambers, and the bill becomes a law without the governor's signature. For more information about House Enrolled Act 1041, effective on July 1, 2022, visit iga.in.gov.