[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6671802,"mediaKeyId","2149265-f0d0dd42bed789db3a91e8b970e724a1","parentId",2149265,"title","House panel advances bill extending sports eligibility rules to college athletics","audioSeconds",5505,"startMs",65000,"endMs",5570000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2149265-f0d0dd42bed789db3a91e8b970e724a1&start=65&end=5570","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2149265-f0d0dd42bed789db3a91e8b970e724a1/thumbnail_65000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6671802/Wyoming/House-panel-advances-bill-extending-sports-eligibility-rules-to-college-athletics","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6671802-9e4d3575cfcb62e46ab8144581af10ee/orig.mp4?Expires=1773628436&Signature=Ea0Sz5AT31KhUfQdSm02u4i79sw~XrriisLdUSKXyX1RVDD~3TboIn-JqpvmGscHACKhlqgalK07-rNbQKNyiVLdG8hPUNnfasWsY--s3o96wGi34coJkBi1FuBdxqgQbWwYEJLVTHexP7ikSIxeqd-KGY4SiJHIEEvV1zRohzhwr-b66CAYLmO9OpUIQA-5cCj6oos3e1gKTD5lRz6OOPxLjGkdSdyzL9l1l9O1bMFxPNG~vRoIs2odF1Mq2zHrDIdyF4SiG9ivf6REe-AOIz~3aFtm81grH3FFFII7-70dlidW8bZZdF4i7xwM4mGK9JJlLGddrCusavR~WvKcxw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Wyoming Legislature","date","2025-01-24T21:15:10.05Z","article","CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The House Education Committee on Jan. 24 approved House Bill 60, which would expand existing Wyoming rules on student eligibility in girls' sports to include collegiate teams, including the University of Wyoming and community colleges.

Vice Chair Representative Lawley, the bill sponsor, told the committee the measure is intended to preserve what she called the \"title 9 lane\" in athletics and to align state definitions with recently introduced federal guidance. \"We simply want to preserve the title 9 lane,\" she said.

The bill would restore the original K–12 framing in the earlier sports statute and add collegiate competition to the same framework. Lawley said the measure updates definitions, creates consistency with related bills and seeks to protect fairness, equity and safety in women's sports.

University of Wyoming athletics officials and several athletes testified that the bill contains provisions that could remove competitive opportunities for female athletes. Mike Smith, representing the University of Wyoming athletic department, told the committee the draft language \"does not address either [fairness or safety]\" and \"removes opportunities from women athletes.\" Smith described scenarios — such as timed events in swimming and open track meets — in which a single athlete's classification at another institution could prevent Wyoming competitors from participating and pursuing qualifying times.

Macy Boggs, who played her final season on the University of Wyoming women's volleyball team, said her team lost two matches after refusing to play an opponent that included a male-classified athlete and that the losses kept the team out of the Mountain West Conference tournament. \"No woman should ever be forced to choose between competing against a male athlete ... or forfeiting the rest of her season,\" Boggs said.

Representative Kelly proposed striking the section that would prevent teams from competing against opponents that include a male-classified athlete, arguing adult collegiate athletes should decide for themselves. After discussion about crafting a narrower fix, Kelly withdrew the on-the-floor amendment so sponsors could bring a refined proposal later. Representative Singh suggested a substitute process that would allow a super‑majority, anonymous team vote and required public notice 72 hours before a contest; the sponsor said she preferred to draft committee amendments for a later stage.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder told the committee she supports both bills under consideration and described the sports component as about \"safety and opportunity in women's sports upholding Title IX.\" A Department of Corrections deputy director said the agency had no concerns implementing related privacy provisions in the companion bill affecting correctional facilities.

The committee approved HB60 on a roll-call vote, 9–0. The motion to report the bill favorably was made by Representative Straka and seconded by Representative Guggenmas.

What happens next: HB60 now moves to the full House for consideration. Sponsors said they plan additional drafting to address university and conference concerns raised during testimony.

Sources: committee hearing transcript Jan. 24, 2025; testimony from Vice Chair Representative Lawley, Mike Smith (University of Wyoming), Macy Boggs, and State Superintendent Megan Degenfelder.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Education Committee, January 24, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The House Education Committee on Jan. 24 voted 9–0 to advance House Bill 60, which would extend Wyoming's student eligibility rules for girls' sports to collegiate athletics including the University of Wyoming and community colleges.","taxTitle","Education Committee, House of Representative, Committees, Legislative, Wyoming","taxId",61350,"location","Wyoming","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6671797,"House committee approves bill to define women's privacy in schools, correctional facilities and public buildings",5167,493000,5660000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2149265-f0d0dd42bed789db3a91e8b970e724a1&start=493&end=5660","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2149265-f0d0dd42bed789db3a91e8b970e724a1/thumbnail_493000.jpg","/articles/6671797/Wyoming/House-committee-approves-bill-to-define-womens-privacy-in-schools-correctional-facilities-and-public-buildings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6671797-e07d96cc65933fe94e5c686e8050b83e/orig.mp4?Expires=1773628436&Signature=fs-2KKUS0J8ve0BNFrxDPK1l6bsabeqoJbrdaEyAdQLonkQ7DHK~sOwd4ZIJhn-RYxIZfRVmG26aI0meU0MYbJgKOxYMQphWSCnTd6zxf8TCLh5xkN~J0nlf1nAA4FcfDiLrQcg8W1hAqGdcyvERyp2nsbxKtrA0VsL4H92EDBMDV0o~vmTG6gjfCDRIgmzdFoeA3kIZzpMGvCt~1dRYsOmTms49adqpJtUF5cEfzIxS2rx561EAp7PeFLvuBBgTWmhalk2OlP-jIj2-jrdrRKlvxYvGHG-e5cNia28nSEXrBhOoA~-IWCy5-taAPsTMKO1JH5Ijv9QGDgMCpMM0eQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The House Education Committee on Jan. 24 passed House Bill 72, a measure that would set state standards for access to sex‑segregated facilities in public buildings, schools, higher‑education institutions and correctional facilities and create causes of action when those standards are violated.

Vice Chair Representative Lawley, sponsor of HB72, told the committee the bill \"ensures that women and girls are safe and respected in places where privacy is essential\" and said it provides clarity for school boards and other public institutions that have sought legislative guidance.

HB72 defines terms such as \"restroom,\" \"sleeping quarters,\" \"single‑use\" and the statutory definitions of male and female used elsewhere in the draft. The bill separates general public‑facility provisions from education‑specific provisions; Lawley said the education causes of action include a longer statute of limitations (four years) to account for delayed reporting by children, while the public‑facility statute of limitations is two years.

The bill includes two principal bases for relief: that an institution provided permission for a person of the opposite sex to use a private facility, or that the institution failed to take reasonable steps to prohibit such use after notice. Lawley said the legislation includes exceptions for emergencies, accommodations for people with disabilities and single‑use facilities as preferred accommodations.

The committee adopted an amendment, offered by Representative Volley and seconded by Representative Strock, that clarifies school officials and employees may enter changing areas, restrooms or sleeping quarters while performing official duties provided they \"take reasonable steps to ensure that no person in the room is in a state of undress.\" The amendment passed without recorded opposition.

State Superintendent Megan Degenfelder testified in support of both HB60 and HB72, saying the measures align with protections and the sponsor's goals to preserve Title IX opportunities. The Department of Corrections' Deputy Director Heather Babat said the bill is \"in line with our current policies and practices\" and that the department does not house male and female inmates together.

Attorney testimony raised implementation concerns. James Worthen, a Casper attorney who represents school districts, warned the \"reasonable steps\" standard is ambiguous and could make civil liability and insurance coverage uncertain for districts and higher‑education institutions. Worthen told the committee the uncertainty could expose districts to litigation costs and make enforcement inconsistent across districts.

Civil‑rights and LGBTQ advocates opposed the bills. Sarah Burlingame, executive director of Wyoming Equality, urged lawmakers to consider the effects on transgender and intersex students and said many individuals in the state who might be affected would not be able or willing to bring a lawsuit.

The committee approved HB72 on a 9–0 roll call. Representative Strock moved the bill; Representative Guggenmas seconded.

What happens next: HB72 will proceed to the full House. Sponsors said the bill attempts to provide statutory guidance to schools and other public institutions that have requested direction.","The House Education Committee unanimously advanced House Bill 72 on Jan. 24, which defines male and female for purposes of access to restrooms, locker rooms, sleeping quarters and sets civil remedies; the committee adopted a clarifying amendment about staff entering changing areas.","actionData","errors"]

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House panel advances bill extending sports eligibility rules to college athletics

House committee approves bill to define women's privacy in schools, correctional facilities and public buildings