NEBRASKA — Fairness for Girls submitted more than 211,000 signatures to Nebraska election officials on June 30, 2026. The submission aims to place an initiative on the state ballot that would require school athletic teams to be designated by biological sex and prohibit males from competing on female-designated teams.

The initiative would add a new section to Article VII of the Nebraska Constitution. It proposes that schools classify each athletic team or sport as male, female, or co-ed based on biological sex. This regulation would apply to public school teams and private school teams that engage in competition with public schools. The deadline for signature submission is July 2, 2026.

Former State Senator Julie Slama, the initiative's sponsor, stated, "Girls deserve equal opportunities in their sports. Men competing in girls' sports steal their opportunities to earn scholarships, medals, and advancement." She also expressed gratitude, saying, "We are so grateful to the amazing people who made this happen, and we're looking forward to November." More than $3.1 million contributed to funding the initiative, and $1.6 million represented the largest single donation recorded in Nebraska this election cycle, according to the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission.

In 2025, the Nebraska state legislature passed a law mandating that students in public K-12 or collegiate sports compete on teams designated for their sex, defining sex based on reproductive systems. This existing law also requires students to provide the school with doctor-signed documentation confirming their sex. The initiative from Fairness for Girls would require a simple majority vote for approval and must receive affirmative votes greater than 35% of the total votes cast in the election.

Rainbow Parents of Nebraska opposes the initiative. The organization said, "Trans people make up less than 1% of our state's population. Trans athletes are an even smaller percentage of that 1%. This does NOT protect women as they like to claim. This is another distraction and an attempt to increase conservative voter turnout." Kellie Wise, a former five-year Omaha tackle football player, also voiced concerns. Wise stated, "I worry that that might cause more segregation issues and more fear." She added, "My three injuries that I had, had nothing to do with transgender players whatsoever." Wise also said, "I don't know if there's going to be enough transgenders to form a football team, and I don't know if there's going to be enough women to form a football team."

Why It Matters

This initiative seeks to amend the Nebraska Constitution regarding athletic team designations based on biological sex. The proposed constitutional change follows a state law enacted in 2025 that already mandates sex-segregated sports by reproductive systems and requires medical documentation for student athletes. The amount of funding raised for the initiative, including a large single donation, indicates a structured campaign effort. The initiative is one of 12 filed for the 2026 ballot, in a state where typically only one or two initiatives qualify.