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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 62 FILED ON: 1/3/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 737
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Marcus S. Vaughn and John R. Gaskey
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to defending the autonomy and integrity of student athletes and coaches.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Marcus S. Vaughn9th Norfolk1/3/2025David F. DeCoste5th Plymouth1/23/2025Steven George Xiarhos5th Barnstable1/30/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 62 FILED ON: 1/3/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 737
By Representatives Vaughn of Wrentham and Gaskey of Carver, a petition (accompanied by bill,
House, No. 737) of Marcus S. Vaughn, David F. DeCoste and Steven George Xiarhos relative to
sports teams at public schools. Education.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act relative to defending the autonomy and integrity of student athletes and coaches.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition,
2is hereby amended by inserting the following section: -
3 Section 1E.
4 (a)No public school shall require any student athlete on a single-sex sports team to
5participate in a match, or any part thereof, against an opposing team that includes one or more
6athletes of the opposite sex. No penalty, including but not limited to loss of playing time or loss
7of
8 starting status, shall be imposed by a public school on such a student athlete for refusing
9to play in such a match. 2 of 2
10 (b)No coach of a single-sex public school sports team shall be penalized by that
11school for forfeiting a match against an opposing team because such opposing team includes one
12or more athletes of the opposite sex.
13 (c)The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Massachusetts
14Interscholastic Athletic Association, or any equivalent school organization or an entity or board
15that provides athletic officials, including, but not limited to, referees and umpires, for school
16sports or athletic events shall not penalize any public school, single-sex public school sports
17team, coach of such a team, or student athlete on such a team, for forfeiting or refusing to play in
18a match against an opposing team because such opposing team includes one or more athletes of
19the opposite sex, except that such a forfeit may be recorded as a loss.