Wyoming legislators are preparing to introduce a series of bills during the 2025 general session aimed at restricting transgender individuals’ participation in certain sports and access to public bathrooms and other shared spaces, Oil City News reports.
The proposed measures come amid heightened political focus on transgender issues following recent controversies and shifting legislative priorities.
At least four bills are being drafted by Republican lawmakers, although specific details have yet to be released. The proposals include expanding Wyoming’s existing ban on transgender athletes in K-12 sports and establishing regulations for public restroom usage based on biological sex.
This legislative push follows the passage of a law in 2023 banning gender-affirming care for minors, including access to puberty blockers and hormone therapy. It also comes after a contentious election cycle that saw the conservative Wyoming Freedom Caucus gain influence in the state House, pushing the body further to the right.
Proposed Legislation
- Expanding the Ban on Transgender Athletes
- Rep. Martha Lawley (R-Worland) plans to introduce a bill that would extend Wyoming’s existing sports ban beyond middle and high school girls’ sports to include elementary school and collegiate competitions.
- The bill would also require eligibility for intercollegiate sports at the University of Wyoming (UW) and community colleges to be determined by biological sex. This measure would also prohibit Wyoming teams from competing against out-of-state teams with transgender athletes.
- Lawley framed the proposal as a way to ensure fairness in women’s sports.
“This isn’t about shutting anyone out — it’s about giving every young woman the chance to compete on a level playing field,” she wrote in an op-ed.
- Regulating Access to Public Restrooms
- Lawley is also drafting a bill to prohibit transgender girls and women from using women’s bathrooms, locker rooms, showers, and correctional facilities.
- This proposal comes in response to a request from Park County School District #1, whose Board of Trustees recently passed a resolution calling for legislation to clarify rules regarding restroom use in schools.
- Lawley’s bill is expected to cast a wider net than similar laws in other states, such as Oklahoma’s 2022 law, by applying it to not just schools but also other public facilities, including correctional institutions.
- The bill would provide a private right of action, allowing individuals to sue public institutions, like schools, if they believe their privacy rights have been violated.
- Alternative Legislation on College Sports
- Sen. Wendy Schuler (R-Evanston), who led efforts to pass the 2023 K-12 transgender sports ban, is planning to introduce a separate bill focused solely on college athletics.
- Schuler’s original 2023 proposal included collegiate sports but was later amended to exclude them following feedback from the University of Wyoming. However, she now believes the NCAA has failed to adequately address the issue and will push for collegiate-level regulations.
- Schuler said she has not sought UW’s approval for this latest proposal but noted that “they didn’t try to discourage me.”
The legislative push follows a controversial decision by the University of Wyoming women’s volleyball team, which forfeited a match against San José State University in October. Reports indicate the opposing team included a transgender athlete, prompting backlash from the public and elected officials.
The team was reportedly split on whether to play, with a 9-9 team vote and one abstention. University officials ultimately decided to forfeit the match, a move that drew mixed reactions.
According to Rep. Lawley, the incident served as a catalyst for her decision to draft new legislation.
“What happened with the volleyball was very eye-opening… I had a lot of response from constituents about that when it was happening,” she said.
The bills are likely to receive support from the influential Wyoming Freedom Caucus, which has played a leading role in advancing conservative priorities in the state House. While Freedom Caucus Chair Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams (R-Cody) did not confirm whether her group would bring its own bills on the matter, she praised Lawley’s efforts.
“We are pleased to see her being more responsive to the will of the people of Wyoming,” Rodriguez-Williams said.
However, opposition to the proposed legislation is also emerging. Rep. Karlee Provenza (D-Laramie) expressed concern, arguing that lawmakers should be focused on pressing economic and social issues affecting the state, such as wildfires, affordable housing, and layoffs in the mining sector.
“We have real problems here… I thought I was coming [to the Legislature] to solve problems and not attack people in my district, because that’s who this impacts — it’s my district,” Provenza said.
Provenza also expressed disappointment with the emphasis on transgender issues, stating that she believes Wyoming lawmakers should focus on finding common ground and addressing issues that impact a broader spectrum of residents.
The legislative effort raises questions about potential lawsuits and the financial cost of enforcement. Critics argue that giving individuals the right to sue schools and public entities could place a financial strain on local governments and education systems.
“Other states have used funding as a motivation, and that could be something we look at again,” Lawley said.
She noted that some states tie education funding to compliance with restroom laws. However, this could face legal challenges in Wyoming, where the state is constitutionally required to fully fund public education.
Meanwhile, the proposed private right of action — similar to a provision in Texas’ controversial abortion law — has drawn attention for its potential to encourage lawsuits from private citizens against public institutions.
The Wyoming Legislature’s 2025 general session begins on January 14, and the proposed bills on sports participation and public restroom access are expected to be key points of debate.
