House committee tables bill to reserve women’s sports for biological females after hours of testimony

A House committee tabled House Bill 185, the Protection of Women’s Sports Act, after a lengthy hearing that drew dozens of witnesses and heated exchanges from lawmakers.

Supporters, including the bill’s sponsor and co-sponsors, told the committee the measure would preserve fairness and safety in women’s athletics and align state rules with a recent federal executive order. Opponents, including LGBTQ and civil‑liberties groups and medical professionals, said the bill would exclude transgender people and risk harm to vulnerable youth.

The bill’s sponsor, Representative Reeb, told the committee HB185 is “not a ban. This is a protection for women in women’s sports,” and said the measure would clarify the categories created by Title IX and a federal executive order so that school administrators would not risk losing federal funds. The sponsor – joined at the hearing by co-sponsors Representative Jennifer Jones, Representative Rebecca Dow and Representative Rod Montoya – also called witnesses Peyton McNabb and Kim Russell to testify as experts on women’s athletics.

Peyton McNabb, introduced at the hearing as “a former female athlete and ambassador at Independent Women’s Forum,” described a concussion and lasting injuries she said followed contact with a male opponent and urged lawmakers to pass HB185 “to prevent other female athletes from suffering from injuries such as my own.” Coach Kim Russell, identified as a longtime women’s lacrosse coach and Independent Women’s Forum ambassador, told the panel HB185 would “shield schools from unjust accusations while upholding fairness in sports.”

Equality New Mexico, the statewide LGBTQ civil‑rights organization, opposed the bill. Executive Director Marshall Martinez said the state’s values favor inclusion and warned against “angry politicians deciding who can play those sports.” The Transgender Resource Center of New Mexico’s Jude Glazener told the committee HB185 would “prohibit trans youth…from playing sports as the gender they most identify with” and would not account for lawful corrections to birth certificates.

Medical testimony was mixed. Christopher McGrew, a primary‑care sports‑medicine physician, told the committee he opposed HB185 and said “there is no scientific research to suggest the very small population of transgender girls and women pose any risk to girls and women’s sports in New Mexico.” Other clinicians and witnesses at the hearing described physical differences after puberty and told lawmakers those differences create safety and scholarship concerns.

Supporters cited polling statistics during testimony to argue public backing for protections: witnesses referenced a New Mexico survey in which, they said, “94% of respondents oppose allowing biological males in girls’ locker rooms” and other high percentages in favor of sex‑segregated sports; opponents and some lawmakers questioned the survey’s framing and relevance.

After public comment and questions from committee members, lawmakers voted to table HB185. The motion to table carried on a 4–2 vote.

With the bill tabled, sponsors can seek to return the measure to committee or revise its language for a future hearing. The committee’s action means HB185 will not advance from this hearing without further motion to revive it.