State Rep Promises to Fight for Girls’ Sports After Governor Veto

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — State Representative Jake Teshka is vowing to continue to fight for girls sports after Republican Governor Eric Holcomb vetoed legislation that would prevent biological boys from competing against biological females in K-12 schools.

“As the father of a little girl, I am extremely disappointed.” Teshka said. “The need for legislation protecting girls’ sports has been on full display this last week. I am eager to get back to the statehouse and cast my vote to override.”

Holcomb announced his veto in a letter to House Speaker Todd Huston earlier this week. HEA 1041 addresses only K-12 schools. A synopses of the bill can be seen below.

“(HB 1041) Prohibits a male, based on the student’s biological sex at birth in accordance with the student’s genetics and reproductive biology, from participating on an athletic team or sport designated as being a female, women’s, or girls’ athletic team or sport. Requires school corporations, public schools, certain nonpublic schools, and certain athletic associations to: (1) establish and maintain grievance procedures; or (2) maintain grievance or protest procedures established before July 1, 2022; for a violation of these provisions. Establishes a civil action for a violation of these provisions. Provides that school corporations, public schools, certain nonpublic schools, and certain athletic associations are not subject to liability in a civil, administrative, disciplinary, or criminal action for acting in compliance with these provisions.”

Teshka says the Indiana House of Representatives has already promised to bring up a vote to override the Governor’s veto when lawmakers head back to Indianapolis in May.

“We’re lucky we have a weak governor system that allows for a simple majority to override a veto.” Teshka said. “I’m fairly confident the House will vote to override, we will see what happens in the Senate.”

Teshka tells REAL News Michiana that he attempted to get collegiate sports added into the legislation during session, but his amendment was not brought up for a reading. Several members of the caucus were more than likely pressured by the NCAA, which is headquartered in Indianapolis.

HB 1041 was authored by State Representative Michelle Davis, who was a Division I athlete herself. She played basketball for Ball State while earning her degree in elementary education.

Men competing in women’s sports has come to a head in the past couple of weeks with a biological man named Lia Thomas winning an NCAA title in Women’s Division I swimming. Until this year, Thomas had been competing as a male on the University of Pennsylvania swimming team, where he was ranked around 460th in the country.

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