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To authorize civil actions against institutions of higher education and athletic associations that negligently or recklessly permit a biologically male student athlete to compete in an athletic competition intended exclusively for female student athletes, resulting in harm.
Summary
This bill creates a civil cause of action allowing female student athletes to sue institutions of higher education or athletic associations in federal court. The lawsuit can be brought if the institution or association negligently or recklessly permits a biologically male student athlete to compete in athletic competitions intended exclusively for female student athletes. Female student athletes must have suffered physical injury due to the physiological advantages of the male athlete to bring the action. Damages available include compensation for physical injury, loss of scholarships, or loss of professional opportunities. Courts must award reasonable attorney's fees to any plaintiff who prevails in such a lawsuit.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
10 cosponsors
- Rep. Allen, Rick W. [R-GA-12] (R-GA)
- Rep. Biggs, Sheri [R-SC-3] (R-SC)
- Rep. Cammack, Kat [R-FL-3] (R-FL)
- Rep. Cline, Ben [R-VA-6] (R-VA)
- Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3] (R-LA)
- Rep. Luna, Anna Paulina [R-FL-13] (R-FL)
- Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15] (R-IL)
- Rep. Rose, John W. [R-TN-6] (R-TN)
- Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4] (R-NJ)
- Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17] (R-FL)
Actions (2)
- Feb 4, 2026 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. · house
- Feb 4, 2026 Introduced in House
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 4, 2026
Mr. McGuire introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
To authorize civil actions against institutions of higher education and athletic associations that negligently or recklessly permit a biologically male student athlete to compete in an athletic competition intended exclusively for female student athletes, resulting in harm.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Riley Gaines Act”.
SEC. 2. CIVIL ACTION FOR HARM CAUSED BY BIOLOGICAL MEN IN FEMALE ATHLETIC COMPETITIONS.
(a) In General.—If an institution of higher education or an athletic association negligently or recklessly permits a biologically male student athlete to compete in an athletic competition intended exclusively for female student athletes and a female student athlete is physically injured due to the inherent physiological advantages of the biologically male student athlete, such female student athlete may bring a civil action for damages (including the value of the loss of a scholarship or professional opportunity) in any Federal district court of appropriate jurisdiction against such institution or athletic association.
(b) Attorney’s Fees for Plaintiff.—The court shall award a reasonable attorney’s fee to a prevailing plaintiff in a civil action under this section. <all>
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