A Republican budget bill would sanction schools that don’t require athletes to compete under their sex assigned at birth. It was adopted this week by the state House Appropriations Committee.
Representative Thomas Albert chairs the appropriations committee.
“You know, this is something nobody would have even talked about 10 years ago. So this is something that we just, we want to get ahead of.”]
“I don’t believe it belongs in a budget bill.”
Jennifer Smith is with the Michigan Association of School Boards.
“I also don’t think that this has been an overwhelming problem in Michigan”
She says the Michigan High School Athletic Association already has a review process for transgender athletes that’s working.
There is also a standalone Senate bill to do the same thing. Governor Gretchen Whitmer is a supporter of transgender rights and would almost certainly veto it.