STATEHOUSE (July 8, 2025) – Gov. Mike Braun recently ceremonially signed into law a bill authored by State Rep. Michelle Davis (R-Whiteland) aimed at protecting women's sports at the collegiate level in Indiana.
House Enrolled Act 1041 will ensure that biological men cannot compete in female sports at the post-secondary level in the state of Indiana. This law aligns with an executive order at the federal level signed by President Donald Trump and the one at the state level signed by Gov. Mike Braun. Davis was invited to attend both signing ceremonies for her leadership on this issue. Her legislation codifies this language into Indiana law.
“With this new law in place, Indiana is taking a strong stand for fairness in women's collegiate sports,” Davis said. “Female athletes deserve equal opportunities to compete on a level playing field, and this legislation helps protect the integrity of women's sports. I'm proud to see Indiana lead on this issue and I'm grateful to my colleagues and Gov. Mike Braun for their support.”
Elle Patterson, a former San Jose State volleyball player, testified in support of the bill in both the House Education Committee and Senate Education and Career Development Committee hearings. She stated that she lost a volleyball scholarship to a biological male athlete and was required to share hotel rooms and locker rooms, while being unfairly compared in athletic performance.
Davis also authored House Enrolled Act 1041 during the 2022 legislative session, which prohibited biological men from participating in female sports in K-12 schools.
To learn more about HEA 1041 and other new laws signed by the governor, click here.
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State Rep. Michelle Davis (R-Whiteland) represents House District 58,
which includes a portion of Johnson County.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
PHOTO CAPTION: Gov. Mike Braun (center, seated) ceremonially signs into law House Enrolled Act 1041, authored by State Rep. Michelle Davis (R-Whiteland) (sixth from left) to protect women's sports at the collegiate level on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at the Statehouse in Indianapolis. Joining Davis and Braun were bill co-authors State Reps. Bob Heaton (R-Terre Haute) (back row, right) and Joanna King (R-Middlebury) (fourth from right) and sponsors State Sens. Stacey Donato (R-Logansport) (second row, second from right), Linda Rogers (R-Granger) (front row, second from right) and Spencer Deery (R-West Lafayette) (far left). Indiana Secretary of Education Dr. Katie Jenner (front row, third from left); House Education Committee members State Reps. Bob Behning (R-Indianapolis) (front row, second from left), Jake Teshka (R-North Liberty) (back row, far left), Hunter Smith (R-Zionsville) (back row, second from left) and Julie McGuire (R-Indianapolis) (far right); and State Sen. Jeff Raatz (R-Richmond) (second row, far right) and other education stakeholders were also in attendance.
