State by State · Law protects girls’ sports in K-12 and colleges
North Carolina's Fairness in Women's Sports Act (2023) keeps girls' and women's teams in middle school, high school and college for females. Lawmakers passed it over the governor's veto.
The law in North Carolina
Law in force · Covers K-12 and colleges
Past attempts
The law in detail, with sources
The law
HB 574, “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act” (S.L. 2023-109). Gov. Cooper vetoed it July 5, 2023, and the legislature overrode the veto Aug 16, 2023 (NCGA summary). The House voted 74–45 (roll call #507) and the Senate 27–18 (WITN). It is codified at G.S. 115C-407.59.
Who it covers
Middle school, high school and college teams designated for females, starting with the 2023–24 school year (NCGA summary).
Notes
Sex is “recognized based solely on the student’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth.” The law gives a right to sue to students who lose an athletic opportunity, to students who face retaliation for reporting a violation, and to public school units harmed for following the law. Suits must be filed within two years (G.S. 115C-407.59). We found no court ruling blocking it. In 2025 the legislature also overrode a veto of HB 805 (S.L. 2025-84, “Prevent Sexual Exploitation/Women and Minors”; vetoed July 3, overridden July 29, 2025) (NCGA). We did not confirm whether HB 805 changes anything about sports.
Evie Edwards, from North Carolina
ICONS Secretary Evie Edwards lives in North Carolina. A multiple-time USA Cycling Masters national champion and a UCI Masters Track World Championship silver medalist, she has spoken up for North Carolina’s girls and women for years. In April 2021 she testified for the Save Women’s Sports Act (House Bill 358) before the state House Judiciary 1 Committee. In April 2023, as lawmakers took up the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, she wrote in the Carolina Journal as “a female athlete, mother, and Democrat” calling on North Carolina to save women’s sports. The law passed over the governor’s veto that August.
What ICONS has done in North Carolina
- September 29, 2024 · Listen: ICONS Secretary Evie Edwards on her stand for fairness in women’s cycling
Athletes in ICONS-backed lawsuits
- Kylee Alons, swimming, from North Carolina · Gaines v. NCAA
- Julianna Morrow, swimming, from North Carolina · Gaines v. NCAA
- Carter Satterfield, swimming, from North Carolina · Gaines v. NCAA
- Grace Countie, swimming, University of North Carolina · Gaines v. NCAA
In the news
- Cyclist who lost to trans woman: It kills your desire to do your best (Fox News, The Ingraham Angle, December 7, 2023)
- ‘It’s simply not fair’: Evie Edwards on competing with trans athletes (Fox News, America’s Newsroom, June 29, 2023)
- I’m a female athlete, mother, and Democrat calling on NC to save women’s sports, by Evie Edwards (Carolina Journal, April 19, 2023)
- “Save Women’s Sports Act” Gets Hearing in NC House Committee (North Carolina Family Policy Council, April 14, 2021) · Watch Evie’s testimony