Senator Carla Nelson (R-Rochester) today offered the Preserving Girls' Sports Act as an amendment to the Senate's supplemental finance bill, renewing her push to ensure girls' athletic teams are open only to girls.

The straightforward amendment said school sports teams must be designated as boys, girls, or coed based on biological sex at birth. The Minnesota State High School League would have been required to rewrite its policies to match state law. Participation on a girls' team would have been determined by biological sex at birth, confirmed by a simple cheek swab.

"Girls' sports exist because of Title IX, and Title IX exists to protect girls," Senator Nelson said. "The rules here are simple. Girls' teams should be for girls. The Olympic Committee has this in place. The NCAA has this in place. Minnesota should have it in place too. Every parent who has watched their daughter compete deserves to know the playing field is fair, and every girl who works hard and earns her spot on a team deserves to know her opportunity is protected."

Sen. Nelson, who was part of the first generation of girls to benefit from Title IX when it passed in 1972, has been a leading voice on this issue in the Minnesota Senate. She views the amendment as straightforward and broadly supported by the public.

Minnesota is currently under federal scrutiny for its failure to comply with Title IX. The U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services referred Minnesota to the Department of Justice after the state refused to take corrective action on its policy allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls' sports. Minnesota receives roughly $1.4 billion in federal education funding each year, all of which is tied to Title IX compliance.

The amendment was rejected on a party line vote.