Maine representative urges ban on state-funded schools joining groups that allow biological males in girls' sports

Representative Paul of Winterport urged the Maine House on Feb. 25 to pass a joint order directing the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee to report out a bill prohibiting state-funded educational institutions from joining or financially supporting organizations that allow biological males to compete in women’s sports.

Paul said the measure targets the Maine Principals’ Association (MPA) and framed the question as one of fairness and federal compliance. "These decisions are not just unfair, they are cruel. They deny young women the opportunity to compete on equal footing," Representative Paul said during floor remarks. He also warned of a potential conflict with federal law, saying, "Maine must comply with title 9 to receive federal funds," and referenced civil‑rights guidance cited in the chamber.

Paul moved for passage of the joint order directing the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee to consider a prohibition on state-funded institutions joining or funding organizations that permit biological males in women's athletics. Representative K. Moonen (Portland) responded by moving to refer the item to the Joint Standing Committee on Judiciary, saying in part, "There are already pieces of legislation pending dealing with this issue that have been referred to judiciary."

The transcript records Representative Paul presenting the joint order and Representative Moonen moving referral. The transcript does not record a final roll-call tally or the outcome of either motion within the published excerpts. The floor exchange in the transcript is limited to Paul’s statement advocating the order, Moonen’s motion to refer, and procedural recognition by the chair.

If the referral motion is adopted, the Judiciary Committee would receive the House order for consideration; if the House instead voted to adopt the joint order as moved by Paul, the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee would be directed to report a bill. The transcript does not show which of those outcomes occurred during this session.

Next steps: the item is on the record as having a substantive floor presentation and a motion to refer; any committee actions or votes that follow are not shown in the provided transcript excerpts.