South Dakota’s H.B. 1217: Promote Continued Fairness in Women’s Sports Bill

Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota will sign the Promote Continued Fairness in Women’s Sports after the bill was passed 20-15 by the South Dakota Senate on Monday, March 8, 2021. This bill limits female teams and sports at public schools to students who are female based on the student’s biological sex, as ascertained at or before birth in accordance with the student’s genetics and reproductive biology.

“In South Dakota, we’re celebrating #InternationalWomensDay by defending women’s sports! I’m excited to sign this bill very soon,” Noem wrote on Twitter on Monday.

The Promote Continued Fairness in Women’s Sports also prevents a governmental entity, licensing or accrediting organization, or athletic association or organization from entertaining a complaint, opening an investigation, or taking any adverse action against a school, a school district, or an institution of higher education, or against any person employed by, or a governing board member of, such a school, school district, or institution, for maintaining athletic teams or sports in accordance with this bill.

See all aspects of the bill in the PDF file below.

H.B. 1217: Promote Continued Fairness in Women’s Sports Bill PDF