House committee advances bill defining "female" for girls' sports after heated debate; referral to judiciary fails

House File 12, a bill that would add a definition of "female" to Minnesota's Chapter 121A and limit participation on female sports teams, was placed on the General Register by the House Education Policy Committee after a contentious debate and two roll-call votes.

The committee voted down a motion to re-refer the bill to the Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee, 6-7, after Representative Lee Jordan moved for referral, saying the bill interacts with the Minnesota Human Rights Act and raised data and civil-rights questions. After that failed motion, the committee voted 7-6 to place House File 12 as amended on the General Register.

Supporters, led by the bill's author Representative Scott, said the measure reiterates and clarifies existing education statute protecting opportunities for female athletes. "This bill is really not all that complicated. It's reiterating what current law is in Chapter 121A," Representative Scott said in closing remarks. Scott told the committee the change is intended to preserve girls' sports by adding an explicit definition of female to remove recent uncertainty.

Opponents warned the measure raises legal and practical problems, particularly around data, enforcement and impacts on children in elementary grades. Representative Keeler said the bill created "a lot…