New York Takes First Step Toward Fairness in School Sports with Transgender Athlete Bill

In a move celebrated by many parents, coaches, and advocates for fair play, the New York State Senate Education Committee has advanced Senate Bill S0460, a measure designed to preserve the integrity of girls’ school sports by ensuring that participation is based on biological sex rather than gender identity.

Introduced by Senator Steven Rhoads (R), the bill would prevent the state’s Education Commissioner from requiring schools to include biological males, transgender girls, on girls’ sports teams, a practice supporters argue compromises safety, fairness, and opportunities for female athletes.

This bill if passed will stop the NYS Education Department from mandating that transgender-identifying males compete in female sports categories. It will also allow school districts to enforce sex-based eligibility policies for athletics.And it will ensure equal athletic opportunity by maintaining biological distinctions that have historically guided competitive fairness in sports.

The bill passed out of the Senate Education Committee in early May 2025 with bipartisan support. All Republican members voted yes. Three Democrats voted “yes with reservations,” allowing it to move forward. However, the bill has not yet passed the full Senate or Assembly and faces stiff opposition from Democratic leadership.

While not yet law, the committee advancement marks the first serious legislative movement on this issue in New York, signaling growing concern among lawmakers about the long-term implications of gender policies in school athletics.