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Fair Play for Women Act

USA119th CongressS-543| Senate 
| Updated: 2/12/2025
Christopher Murphy

Christopher Murphy

Democratic Senator

Connecticut

Cosponsors (4)
Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Ron Wyden (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The "Fair Play for Women Act" seeks to address persistent sex-based discrimination and unequal opportunities for women and girls in school-based and intercollegiate athletics. Its core purposes include improving data transparency, ensuring awareness of nondiscrimination rights, and guaranteeing equal access to high-quality athletic opportunities across all educational levels. The bill applies to State athletic associations, intercollegiate athletic associations, covered institutions of higher education, and local educational agencies. The Act explicitly prohibits these entities from discriminating on the basis of sex in various aspects of athletics, including rules, required sports, competition sponsorship, facilities, amenities, and the distribution of revenues or benefits. Crucially, it establishes a private right of action , allowing individuals who experience discrimination to sue for legal and equitable relief, including compensatory and punitive damages. A significant component of the bill involves expanding disclosure requirements for athletic programs. For higher education, it mandates detailed reporting on participant numbers, scholarships (including full-cost and multi-year awards), revenues, expenses, and coach compensation, all disaggregated by sex and sport. It also requires reporting on practice players and race/ethnicity data, along with a certification of the institution's Title IX compliance method. Similarly, elementary and secondary schools receiving federal funds must annually report comprehensive data on student demographics, team participation, and detailed expenditures for each sport. To foster awareness, the bill requires annual Title IX training for athletic staff, physical education teachers, and athletes at both K-12 and collegiate levels, with college athletes receiving training from an external expert. The Secretary of Education is tasked with establishing a public database of Title IX coordinators and is empowered to impose civil penalties on institutions or agencies found in noncompliance with the Act's provisions or Title IX. Repeated noncompliance (2 or more years out of 5) triggers a requirement for the entity to submit a publicly available compliance plan, reinforcing accountability for gender equity in sports.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-5307
Fair Play for Women Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-3762
Fair Play for Women Act
Feb 11, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-1183
Introduced in House
Feb 12, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Feb 12, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-5307
    Fair Play for Women Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-3762
    Fair Play for Women Act


  • February 11, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-1183
    Introduced in House


  • February 12, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 12, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Sports and Recreation

Related Bills

  • HR 119-1183: Fair Play for Women Act

Fair Play for Women Act

USA119th CongressS-543| Senate 
| Updated: 2/12/2025
The "Fair Play for Women Act" seeks to address persistent sex-based discrimination and unequal opportunities for women and girls in school-based and intercollegiate athletics. Its core purposes include improving data transparency, ensuring awareness of nondiscrimination rights, and guaranteeing equal access to high-quality athletic opportunities across all educational levels. The bill applies to State athletic associations, intercollegiate athletic associations, covered institutions of higher education, and local educational agencies. The Act explicitly prohibits these entities from discriminating on the basis of sex in various aspects of athletics, including rules, required sports, competition sponsorship, facilities, amenities, and the distribution of revenues or benefits. Crucially, it establishes a private right of action , allowing individuals who experience discrimination to sue for legal and equitable relief, including compensatory and punitive damages. A significant component of the bill involves expanding disclosure requirements for athletic programs. For higher education, it mandates detailed reporting on participant numbers, scholarships (including full-cost and multi-year awards), revenues, expenses, and coach compensation, all disaggregated by sex and sport. It also requires reporting on practice players and race/ethnicity data, along with a certification of the institution's Title IX compliance method. Similarly, elementary and secondary schools receiving federal funds must annually report comprehensive data on student demographics, team participation, and detailed expenditures for each sport. To foster awareness, the bill requires annual Title IX training for athletic staff, physical education teachers, and athletes at both K-12 and collegiate levels, with college athletes receiving training from an external expert. The Secretary of Education is tasked with establishing a public database of Title IX coordinators and is empowered to impose civil penalties on institutions or agencies found in noncompliance with the Act's provisions or Title IX. Repeated noncompliance (2 or more years out of 5) triggers a requirement for the entity to submit a publicly available compliance plan, reinforcing accountability for gender equity in sports.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-5307
Fair Play for Women Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-3762
Fair Play for Women Act
Feb 11, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-1183
Introduced in House
Feb 12, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Feb 12, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-5307
    Fair Play for Women Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-3762
    Fair Play for Women Act


  • February 11, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-1183
    Introduced in House


  • February 12, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 12, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Christopher Murphy

Christopher Murphy

Democratic Senator

Connecticut

Cosponsors (4)
Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Ron Wyden (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

Sports and Recreation

Related Bills

  • HR 119-1183: Fair Play for Women Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted