Press Release: Texas Values Notifies All Texas Public Colleges and Universities to Follow Save Women’s Sports Law (SB 15), Effective September 1!
Austin, TX – Today, Texas Values sent out a letter to all Texas public colleges and universities to inform them of SB 15, Save Women’s Sports Law, taking effect on September 1, 2023. SB 15, authored by Texas Senator Mayes Middleton and sponsored by Texas House Representative Valoree Swanson, was signed into law by Governor Abbott June 15, 2023, and protects college women athletes by making sure that women are not forced to compete against men, which is against Title IX. Texas colleges must follow the Save Women’s Sports Law to ensure that Texas women college athletes do not lose their scholarships, roster spots, and future careers by having a male athlete compete on a woman’s team. Under the law, Texas colleges must assure that all athletic competitions that are “intercollegiate” keep men out of women’s sports. This includes colleges that come to the state to play Texas schools.
You can find a copy of the letter here.
Mary Elizabeth Castle, Director of Government Relations, Texas Values stated:
“Every fall semester, Texas colleges discuss how they can keep young women on campus safe and how to maintain equal opportunity for students. Texas colleges would be remiss if they did not add to their list SB 15, the Texas College Save Women’s Sports Law that keeps women safe and maintains equal opportunity in sports as guaranteed by Title IX by protecting female athletes from being forced to compete against men in college sports. Our letter makes it clear that colleges should follow the law and it gives colleges the tools to do so.”
The legislature’s intent was to protect women and restore their rights. We are looking forward to Texas universities implementing this legislation with confidence, knowing women’s rights are protected.
Last session, the Texas legislature passed HB 25, the Save Girls’ Sports Law, which protects K-12 UIL sports by making sure boys do not compete in girls’ sports.
This legislative session, the Texas legislature passed SB 15, providing full protection for female athletes, preventing males from competing in female sports throughout the state of Texas.
On August 7, 2023, Governor Abbott held a signing ceremony at Texas Woman’s University, Texas Women’s Hall of Fame in Denton Texas with Riley Gaines, Paula Scanlan, Texas College Basketball Player Kassidy Comer, and other female athletes from across the state of Texas.
Texas Values was the leading organization who led the efforts in helping pass this bill alongside ally organizations. Visit SaveWomensSportsTexas.com for more information.
Members of the Texas Values policy team are available for comment. Contact [email protected].
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About Texas Values
Texas Values is the largest statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to standing for faith, family, and freedom in Texas. More information is available at txvalues.org.