What Initiative 638 would change about school sports eligibility

Initiative 638 is on the Nov. 3 ballot. Here is what it would change, according to official summaries.

Current rules. The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) requires a pre-participation physical covering medical history, heart, lungs and orthopedic screening, according to its 2026-27 handbook. WIAA Rule 18.16.0 lets students participate consistent with their gender identity. Olympia and North Thurston district physical forms do not include a sex-verification step.

Proposed change. According to the Attorney General's explanatory statement, I-638 would limit girls-only teams and events to students it defines as biologically female in public K-12 schools and in private schools belonging to WIAA or similar groups. Students seeking to compete on those teams would submit a form signed by their health care provider verifying sex based on "reproductive anatomy, genetic makeup, or normal endogenously produced testosterone levels." The requirement would not apply to boys' teams.

Views. Supporters say the measure would preserve fairness in girls' sports. Opponents say it would exclude transgender girls and add medical requirements for athletes.

Your vote. A yes vote enacts the rules; a no vote keeps current ones, according to the House Office of Program Research. Ballots are due by 8 p.m. Nov. 3.