Illinois 2025-2026 Regular Session

Illinois House Bill HB4027 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB4027 Introduced , by Rep. Tom Weber SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 105 ILCS 25/1.30 new Amends the Interscholastic Athletic Organization Act. Provides that a public school or public postsecondary educational institution that offers, operates, or sponsors interscholastic or intercollegiate athletics shall provide equal athletic opportunities for members of both sexes. Provides that a school may operate or sponsor single-sex teams if the selection for such teams is based upon competitive skill or the activity involved is a contact sport. Provides that a school that participates in competitions or athletic events with or against other schools shall designate each team, competition, or athletic event as (i) for males, men, or boys; (ii) for females, women, or girls; or (iii) coeducational or mixed. Provides that a school or athletic association that is participating in a competition or an athletic event with or against another school that operates, sponsors, or permits athletic events or competitions may not allow any male to compete for, against, or with a team designated for females, women, or girls. Provides that a school or athletic association that operates, sponsors, or permits athletic events or competitions may not allow certain actions. Provides that a governmental entity, licensing or accrediting organization, athletic association, or school may not consider a complaint, open an investigation, or take adverse action against a school for complying with the amendatory provisions. Provides for private causes of action. Makes other changes. LRB104 12725 LNS 23679 b STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB4027 Introduced , by Rep. Tom Weber SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 105 ILCS 25/1.30 new 105 ILCS 25/1.30 new Amends the Interscholastic Athletic Organization Act. Provides that a public school or public postsecondary educational institution that offers, operates, or sponsors interscholastic or intercollegiate athletics shall provide equal athletic opportunities for members of both sexes. Provides that a school may operate or sponsor single-sex teams if the selection for such teams is based upon competitive skill or the activity involved is a contact sport. Provides that a school that participates in competitions or athletic events with or against other schools shall designate each team, competition, or athletic event as (i) for males, men, or boys; (ii) for females, women, or girls; or (iii) coeducational or mixed. Provides that a school or athletic association that is participating in a competition or an athletic event with or against another school that operates, sponsors, or permits athletic events or competitions may not allow any male to compete for, against, or with a team designated for females, women, or girls. Provides that a school or athletic association that operates, sponsors, or permits athletic events or competitions may not allow certain actions. Provides that a governmental entity, licensing or accrediting organization, athletic association, or school may not consider a complaint, open an investigation, or take adverse action against a school for complying with the amendatory provisions. Provides for private causes of action. Makes other changes. LRB104 12725 LNS 23679 b LRB104 12725 LNS 23679 b STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY A BILL FOR
2	2	104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB4027 Introduced , by Rep. Tom Weber SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
3	3	105 ILCS 25/1.30 new 105 ILCS 25/1.30 new
4	4	105 ILCS 25/1.30 new
5	5	Amends the Interscholastic Athletic Organization Act. Provides that a public school or public postsecondary educational institution that offers, operates, or sponsors interscholastic or intercollegiate athletics shall provide equal athletic opportunities for members of both sexes. Provides that a school may operate or sponsor single-sex teams if the selection for such teams is based upon competitive skill or the activity involved is a contact sport. Provides that a school that participates in competitions or athletic events with or against other schools shall designate each team, competition, or athletic event as (i) for males, men, or boys; (ii) for females, women, or girls; or (iii) coeducational or mixed. Provides that a school or athletic association that is participating in a competition or an athletic event with or against another school that operates, sponsors, or permits athletic events or competitions may not allow any male to compete for, against, or with a team designated for females, women, or girls. Provides that a school or athletic association that operates, sponsors, or permits athletic events or competitions may not allow certain actions. Provides that a governmental entity, licensing or accrediting organization, athletic association, or school may not consider a complaint, open an investigation, or take adverse action against a school for complying with the amendatory provisions. Provides for private causes of action. Makes other changes.
6	6	LRB104 12725 LNS 23679 b LRB104 12725 LNS 23679 b
7	7	LRB104 12725 LNS 23679 b
8	8	STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY
9	9	STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY
10	10	A BILL FOR
11	11	HB4027LRB104 12725 LNS 23679 b HB4027 LRB104 12725 LNS 23679 b
12	12	HB4027 LRB104 12725 LNS 23679 b
13	13	1 AN ACT concerning education.
14	14	2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
15	15	3 represented in the General Assembly:
16	16	4 Section 1. This Act may be referred to as the Riley Gaines
17	17	5 Act.
18	18	6 Section 5. Findings. The General Assembly makes all of the
19	19	7 following findings:
20	20	8 (1) The term "sex" refers to an individual's
21	21	9 biological sex, either male or female. An individual's sex
22	22	10 can be observed or clinically verified at or before birth,
23	23	11 and in no case is an individual's sex determined by
24	24	12 stipulation or self-identification.
25	25	13 (2) With respect to sex, the term "equal" does not
26	26	14 mean same or identical.
27	27	15 (3) With respect to sex, separate accommodations are
28	28	16 not inherently unequal.
29	29	17 (4) An individual born with a medically verifiable
30	30	18 diagnosis of disorder or differences in sex development
31	31	19 shall be provided any available legal protections and
32	32	20 accommodations afforded under the federal Americans with
33	33	21 Disabilities Act of 1990 and any applicable State law.
34	34	22 (5) Laws and rules that distinguish between the sexes
35	35	23 are subject to intermediate constitutional scrutiny.
36	36
37	37
38	38
39	39	104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB4027 Introduced , by Rep. Tom Weber SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
40	40	105 ILCS 25/1.30 new 105 ILCS 25/1.30 new
41	41	105 ILCS 25/1.30 new
42	42	Amends the Interscholastic Athletic Organization Act. Provides that a public school or public postsecondary educational institution that offers, operates, or sponsors interscholastic or intercollegiate athletics shall provide equal athletic opportunities for members of both sexes. Provides that a school may operate or sponsor single-sex teams if the selection for such teams is based upon competitive skill or the activity involved is a contact sport. Provides that a school that participates in competitions or athletic events with or against other schools shall designate each team, competition, or athletic event as (i) for males, men, or boys; (ii) for females, women, or girls; or (iii) coeducational or mixed. Provides that a school or athletic association that is participating in a competition or an athletic event with or against another school that operates, sponsors, or permits athletic events or competitions may not allow any male to compete for, against, or with a team designated for females, women, or girls. Provides that a school or athletic association that operates, sponsors, or permits athletic events or competitions may not allow certain actions. Provides that a governmental entity, licensing or accrediting organization, athletic association, or school may not consider a complaint, open an investigation, or take adverse action against a school for complying with the amendatory provisions. Provides for private causes of action. Makes other changes.
43	43	LRB104 12725 LNS 23679 b LRB104 12725 LNS 23679 b
44	44	LRB104 12725 LNS 23679 b
45	45	STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY
46	46	STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY
47	47	A BILL FOR
48	48
49	49
50	50
51	51
52	52
53	53	105 ILCS 25/1.30 new
54	54
55	55
56	56
57	57	LRB104 12725 LNS 23679 b
58	58
59	59	STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY
60	60
61	61
62	62
63	63
64	64
65	65
66	66
67	67
68	68
69	69
70	70
71	71	HB4027 LRB104 12725 LNS 23679 b
72	72
73	73
74	74	HB4027- 2 -LRB104 12725 LNS 23679 b HB4027 - 2 - LRB104 12725 LNS 23679 b
75	75	HB4027 - 2 - LRB104 12725 LNS 23679 b
76	76	1 Intermediate constitutional scrutiny forbids unfair
77	77	2 discrimination against similarly situated male and female
78	78	3 individuals but allows the law to distinguish between the
79	79	4 sexes if such distinctions are substantially related to an
80	80	5 important government objective.
81	81	6 (6) Notwithstanding any provisions of State law to the
82	82	7 contrary, distinctions between the sexes with respect to
83	83	8 athletics that result in separate accommodations are
84	84	9 substantially related to the important governmental
85	85	10 objectives of protecting the health, safety, and privacy
86	86	11 of individuals in such circumstances.
87	87	12 Section 15. The Interscholastic Athletic Organization Act
88	88	13 is amended by adding Section 1.30 as follows:
89	89	14 (105 ILCS 25/1.30 new)
90	90	15 Sec. 1.30. Equal opportunities for both sexes; single-sex
91	91	16 teams.
92	92	17 (a) As used in this Section:
93	93	18 "Athletic association" means any governing body for an
94	94	19 athletic competition or sport or any organization of athletic
95	95	20 conferences.
96	96	21 "Athletic event" means any contest, game, jamboree,
97	97	22 scrimmage, tournament, showcase, or tryout related to a sport
98	98	23 or physical activity.
99	99	24 "Competition" means an athletic event after which (i) a
100	100
101	101
102	102
103	103
104	104
105	105	HB4027 - 2 - LRB104 12725 LNS 23679 b
106	106
107	107
108	108	HB4027- 3 -LRB104 12725 LNS 23679 b HB4027 - 3 - LRB104 12725 LNS 23679 b
109	109	HB4027 - 3 - LRB104 12725 LNS 23679 b
110	110	1 team or individual is designated as a winner, (ii) roster
111	111	2 spots are determined, or (iii) prizes are awarded.
112	112	3 "Female" means an individual who has, had, or will have
113	113	4 the reproductive system capable of the generation, migration,
114	114	5 and utilization of eggs for fertilization or would have such
115	115	6 capabilities but for a developmental or genetic anomaly or
116	116	7 historical accident.
117	117	8 "Male" means an individual who has, had, or will have the
118	118	9 reproductive system capable of the generation, migration, and
119	119	10 utilization of sperm for fertilization or would have such
120	120	11 capabilities but for a developmental or genetic anomaly or
121	121	12 historical accident.
122	122	13 "Participant" means a student who is participating in an
123	123	14 athletic event.
124	124	15 "Sex" means an individual's biological sex, either male or
125	125	16 female, that can be observed or clinically verified at or
126	126	17 before birth and is not determined by stipulation or
127	127	18 self-identification.
128	128	19 "School" means a public school or public postsecondary
129	129	20 educational institution.
130	130	21 "Team" means any individual or group of people who compete
131	131	22 in athletic events for the same organization, school, club, or
132	132	23 cause.
133	133	24 (b) A school that offers, operates, or sponsors
134	134	25 interscholastic or intercollegiate athletics shall provide
135	135	26 equal athletic opportunities for members of both sexes.
136	136
137	137
138	138
139	139
140	140
141	141	HB4027 - 3 - LRB104 12725 LNS 23679 b
142	142
143	143
144	144	HB4027- 4 -LRB104 12725 LNS 23679 b HB4027 - 4 - LRB104 12725 LNS 23679 b
145	145	HB4027 - 4 - LRB104 12725 LNS 23679 b
146	146	1 (c) A school may operate or sponsor single-sex teams if
147	147	2 the selection for such teams is based upon competitive skill
148	148	3 or the activity involved is a contact sport.
149	149	4 (d) A school that participates in competitions or athletic
150	150	5 events with or against other schools shall designate each
151	151	6 team, competition, or athletic event as one of the following
152	152	7 categories:
153	153	8 (1) for males, men, or boys;
154	154	9 (2) for females, women, or girls; or
155	155	10 (3) coeducational or mixed.
156	156	11 (e) A school or athletic association that is participating
157	157	12 in a competition or an athletic event with or against another
158	158	13 school that operates, sponsors, or permits athletic events or
159	159	14 competitions may not allow any male to compete for, against,
160	160	15 or with a team designated for females, women, or girls.
161	161	16 (f) A school or athletic association that operates,
162	162	17 sponsors, or permits athletic events or competitions may not
163	163	18 allow the following:
164	164	19 (1) any male to occupy a roster spot on any team
165	165	20 designated for females, women, or girls; or
166	166	21 (2) any male to receive a scholarship designated for
167	167	22 female athletes.
168	168	23 (g) The biological sex listed on a participant's birth
169	169	24 certificate may be relied on to establish the participant's
170	170	25 eligibility for athletic activities under this Section if the
171	171	26 sex designated on the birth certificate was designated at or
172	172
173	173
174	174
175	175
176	176
177	177	HB4027 - 4 - LRB104 12725 LNS 23679 b
178	178
179	179
180	180	HB4027- 5 -LRB104 12725 LNS 23679 b HB4027 - 5 - LRB104 12725 LNS 23679 b
181	181	HB4027 - 5 - LRB104 12725 LNS 23679 b
182	182	1 near the time of the participant's birth.
183	183	2 (h) Nothing in this Section may be construed to authorize
184	184	3 a school or athletic association to verify or confirm a
185	185	4 participant's sex through visual inspection of a participant's
186	186	5 external sex organs for purposes of participation in athletic
187	187	6 events. This subsection (h) does not prohibit reliance on
188	188	7 medical records or other standard, school medical procedures
189	189	8 for verification.
190	190	9 (i) Nothing in this Section prohibits a school or athletic
191	191	10 association from allowing males to practice or train with
192	192	11 teams designated for females, women, or girls if the male
193	193	12 players do not take a roster spot, an opportunity to compete, a
194	194	13 scholarship, or a spot at the school from any female.
195	195	14 (j) A governmental entity, licensing or accrediting
196	196	15 organization, athletic association, or school may not consider
197	197	16 a complaint, open an investigation, or take adverse action
198	198	17 against a school for complying with this Section.
199	199	18 (k) An individual who is deprived of an athletic
200	200	19 opportunity or who suffers or will suffer direct or indirect
201	201	20 harm resulting from a violation of this Section may bring a
202	202	21 private cause of action for injunctive relief, compensatory
203	203	22 damages, and attorney's fees against the violating entity.
204	204	23 (l) A school or athletic association that suffers or will
205	205	24 suffer direct or indirect harm as a result of a violation of
206	206	25 this Section may bring a private cause of action against the
207	207	26 violating entity for injunctive relief and compensatory
208	208
209	209
210	210
211	211
212	212
213	213	HB4027 - 5 - LRB104 12725 LNS 23679 b
214	214
215	215
216	216	HB4027- 6 -LRB104 12725 LNS 23679 b HB4027 - 6 - LRB104 12725 LNS 23679 b
217	217	HB4027 - 6 - LRB104 12725 LNS 23679 b
218	218	1 damages.
219	219	2 (m) An individual or team subjected to retaliation or
220	220	3 other adverse actions as a result of reporting a violation of
221	221	4 this Section to an employee or representative of a school or
222	222	5 athletic association or a State or federal governmental entity
223	223	6 with oversight authority may bring a private cause of action
224	224	7 against the retaliating entity for injunctive relief, damages,
225	225	8 and any other available relief.
226	226	9 (n) An action brought under this Section shall be
227	227	10 commenced within one year after the event giving rise to the
228	228	11 complaint.
229	229
230	230
231	231
232	232
233	233
234	234	HB4027 - 6 - LRB104 12725 LNS 23679 b