Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signs bill setting restrictions on transgender athletes in college sports

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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed legislation Thursday that will prohibit transgender women from competing in women's collegiate athletics.

The measure adds to a 2021 Texas law that requires public school teams through high school "to be designated by students’ sex assigned at birth." 

Senate Bill 15, called the "Save Women’s Sports Act," says intercollegiate athletes must participate on teams based on their biological sex or what is "correctly" on the student’s birth certificate. 

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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott during a news conference March 15, 2023, in Austin, Texas. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

"Today is an important day for female athletes across the state of Texas, including little girls who aspire to one day compete in college sports," Abbott said Thursday, via The Hill, in Austin. 

"This Act applies to any intercollegiate athletic competition sponsored or authorized by a public institution of higher education that occurs on or after the effective date of this Act," the legislation states.

The law becomes effective Sept. 1 at the earliest. 

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The legislation also says the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board will be adopting rules to put the act into effect, making sure state and federal law "regarding the confidentiality of student medical information" is ensured. 

"An institution of higher education or an intercollegiate athletic team … may not retaliate against a person for reporting a violation of this section," the bill states. 

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