State by State · Law protects girls’ sports in K-12 and colleges
Iowa law (2022) keeps girls' and women's teams for females in public and private schools and in colleges. Students harmed by a violation can sue, and the state defends schools that follow the law.
The law in Iowa
Law in force · Covers K-12 and colleges
The law in detail, with sources
The law
HF 2416 (2022), signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds Mar. 3, 2022, effective July 1, 2022 (bill page; HuffPost). Codified at Iowa Code ch. 261I (2022 Acts ch. 1003), amended by 2025 Acts ch. 1 (Iowa Code ch. 261I).
Who it covers
Public school districts, accredited private schools, Regents universities, community colleges, and private colleges in NCAA, NAIA or NJCAA; all interscholastic teams and events they sponsor or sanction, and athletic organizations (§ 261I.1–.2).
Notes
Teams are designated by sex at birth; “Only female students, based on their sex, may participate” on girls’ teams. Birth certificate issued at or near birth is presumed correct. Private cause of action for harmed students and schools, protection for students who report violations, no liability for complying, two-year filing limit, and the Attorney General defends schools sued for complying at no cost (Iowa Code § 261I.2). 2025: SF 418 removed gender identity from the Iowa Civil Rights Act and added a definition of sex used by this chapter, effective July 1, 2025 (AP; Iowa Code ch. 261I history note). No court ruling against the law found.
Athletes in ICONS-backed lawsuits
- Ainsley Erzen, track and soccer, from Iowa · Gaines v. NCAA