Republican senators file amendment to stop college sports bill from overriding state women's sports laws

Fox News reports on the Supreme Court's decision to uphold Idaho and West Virginia laws, effectively banning biological males from participating in girls' sports. Constitutional law attorney Jonathan Turley and chief legal correspondent Shannon Bream explain that the ruling aligns with the view that transgender status is not a protected class like race or religion, leaving the decision to individual states.

Three Republican senators filed an amendment Thursday aimed at preventing the Protect College Sports Act from overriding state laws that bar biological males from competing in women’s athletics.

Sens. Josh Hawley of Missouri, Jim Banks of Indiana and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama are trying to close what they see as a loophole in the Protect College Sports Act.

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Protesters against transgender athletes competing in women's sports gathered outside the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 13, 2026, as two cases about transgender girls joining girls' and women's sports teams were heard inside the court. (Heather Diehl/Getty Images)

As currently written, the bill would override certain state laws dealing with college athlete eligibility. The senators are concerned that could include laws in Missouri, Indiana and other states that prohibit biological males from competing on women’s college teams.

Their amendment would make clear that those state protections remain in effect. It specifically says the bill’s federal preemption provision would not apply to any state or local law that "prohibits biological men from playing in women’s sports."

"Biological men should never be allowed in women’s sports or women’s locker rooms," Hawley said in a statement. "We’ve got to make sure