Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Transgender Sports topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate sustains chair’s ruling, bars amendment aimed at excluding transgender girls from girls’ school sports
Summary
A floor amendment to an education bill that would have banned biological boys from competing in girls’ middle‑ and high‑school sports was ruled non‑germane by the presiding officer and the Senate sustained that ruling, so the amendment was not considered.
The New York State Senate on Wednesday considered an appeal after a floor amendment to an education law bill was ruled non‑germane and therefore out of order.
Senator Wike offered an amendment to Assembly bill 5448B (on the floor as Calendar 456) that would have prohibited biological boys from competing in girls’ sports in middle and high schools. The presiding officer ruled the amendment non‑germane to the bill’s subject matter. Senator Wike appealed that ruling and spoke in favor of the amendment, arguing it was necessary to protect competitive fairness and student safety.
The Senate voted on whether to overrule the chair. A show‑of‑hands vote was taken and the ruling of the chair stood; the amendment remained out of order and was not considered for adoption. Floor debate included assertions by Senator Wike about comparative physiological differences and cited anecdotal cases; the chair’s ruling and subsequent vote prevented the Senate from taking a position on the proposed amendment on the floor that day.
Ending: The underlying education law bill proceeded without the contested amendment. The procedural ruling concludes this floor-stage attempt to modify the bill; the legislative record reflects both the sponsor’s objection to the amendment as non‑germane and the substantive arguments offered by proponents.
