State by State · No law protecting girls’ sports
Rhode Island has no law protecting girls' sports. Since 2025 the state athletic league has left each school principal to decide who plays on girls' teams.
The law in Rhode Island
No state law
Past attempts
- 2024: H7727 (girls’ sports bill) heard in House Education Apr 10, 2024; not enacted (RI Legislature testimony).
- 2025: H5842, “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act,” failed; last action Apr 23, 2025 (Trans Legislation Tracker).
The law in detail, with sources
The law
No state law. On Mar 7, 2025, the Rhode Island Interscholastic League (RIIL) Principals’ Committee on Athletics voted 11–0 to replace its policy, which had allowed participation by gender identity, with new language: “Member schools are responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable state and federal law when determining gender-based eligibility for participation,” with eligibility “the exclusive and continuing obligation of the member Principal” (RIIL minutes, Mar 7, 2025).
Who it covers
RIIL member middle and high schools.
Notes
Before March 2025, the RIIL said students could participate consistent with their gender identity (Steve Ahlquist, June 17, 2025). Now each principal decides. The state’s Board of Education regulation on gender identity (200-RICR-30-10-1) does not specifically address athletics (RI SOS). In December 2025 the Westerly School Committee voted 6–1 against a local eligibility policy that would have limited girls’ teams to females (Progressive Charlestown).