Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · Bill
SB 295: Public schools, etc.; student participation in women's sports, civil cause of action.
In committee Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
SB 295 is a bill introduced in the Virginia Senate on January 13, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Public schools, etc.; student participation in women's sports, civil cause of action. Primary sponsor: Mark Peake (Republican). Most recent recorded action (January 29, 2026): Passed by indefinitely in Education and Health (9-Y 6-N).
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
Official summary
Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.
K-12 schools; student participation in women's sports; civil cause of action. Requires each interscholastic, intramural, or club athletic team or sport sponsored by a public school or any other school that is a member of the Virginia High School League to be expressly designated as one of the following based on the biological sex of the students who participate on the team or in the sport: (i) for males, men, or boys; (ii) for females, women, or girls; or (iii) for coed or mixed if participation on such team or sport is open to both males and females. The bill requires that the biological sex of any student seeking to participate on such an expressly designated team be affirmed by a signed physician's statement. The bill prohibits any such team or sport that is expressly designated for females from being open to students whose biological sex is male. The bill prohibits any government entity, licensing or accrediting organization, or athletic association or organization from entertaining a complaint, opening an investigation, or taking any other adverse action against any such school based on a violation of the provisions of the bill and creates a cause of action for any school that suffers harm as a result of a violation of the bill. Finally, the bill creates a civil cause of action for any student who suffers harm as a result of a knowing violation of a provision of the bill by a school or as a result of the student's reporting a violation of a provision of the bill by a school, athletic association, or organization.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Republican 1
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Peake | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 8 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Passed by indefinitely in Education and Health (9-Y 6-N)
- Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB295)
- Assigned Education sub: Public Education
- Referred to Committee on Education and Health
- Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101143D