Two Tennessee lawmakers are sponsoring legislation which would prohibit biological males from participating in public higher education sports designated specifically for females.

SB1862/HB1894 is sponsored by Senator Joey Hensley (R-Hohenwald-D28) and Representative John Ragan in their respective chambers. The proposed law states ” Intercollegiate or intramural athletic teams or sports that are designated for “females,” “women,” or “girls” and that are sponsored, sanctioned, or operated by a public institution of higher education or by a private institution of higher education whose students or teams compete against public institutions of higher education shall not be open to students of the male sex.”

Institutions would have to verify the athlete’s sex based on their original birth certificate or other evidence as provided if the sex is not stated on the birth certificate. The proposed law would also allow a student or the legal guardians of a student who misses out on an athletic opportunity because of the school’s violation of the law to sue for damages.

Sen. Hensley was also behind a bill which passed last year requiring public middle schools and high schools to only allow athletic participation based on the student’s original sex listed on the birth certificate.