H.R. 8781 · On the floor · Education

Title IX Clarification Act of 2026

Sponsor: Jodey C. Arrington (R-TX)

What it does

• Define sex under Title IX as an individual's biologically determined sex, either male or female.
• Define female as a natural person with or having had reproductive system capable of producing and utilizing ova for fertilization.
• Define male as a natural person with or having had reproductive system capable of producing and utilizing sperm for fertilization.
• Limit Title IX's sex discrimination prohibition to apply only to biological sex under these definitions.

Official summary

Title IX Clarification Act of 2026 This bill defines the terms sex , female , and male for purposes of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs that receive federal financial assistance. Specifically, the bill defines sex as an individual’s biologically determined sex, as either male or female. Therefore, Title IX's prohibition on sex discrimination only applies to biological sex under the bill. The bill defines female , when used with respect to a natural person, as an individual who naturally has, had, will have, or would have, but for a congenital anomaly, historical accident, or intentional or unintentional disruption, the reproductive system that at some point produces, transports, and utilizes the large gamete (ova) for fertilization. The bill defines male , when used with respect to a natural person, as an individual who naturally has, had, will have, or would have, but for a congenital anomaly, historical accident, or intentional or unintentional disruption, the reproductive system that at some point produces, transports, and utilizes the small gamete (sperm) for fertilization. (A January 20…

Latest action

Sep 8, 2026: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 698.

Committee: House Education and Workforce