Virginia’s State Board of Health announced on July 30 that it will not move forward with a regulatory action intended to protect female‑only athletic teams and private spaces. The decision came six months after Governor Abigail Spanberger took office, effectively ending a process that began under former Governor Glenn Youngkin.
Background of the proposed rule
In April 2025, three former Roanoke College swimmers—Lily Mullens, Hungarian Olympian Réka György, and former teammate Carter Satterfield—filed a petition with the Virginia State Board of Health. The petition called for a rule that would prevent biological males from participating on organized female‑only sports teams and from entering female‑designated spaces such as locker rooms and changing areas.
The petition attracted more than 2,300 public comments. In August 2025, the Board voted unanimously (14‑0) to begin drafting the regulation. The Youngkin administration then issued a Notice of Intended Regulatory Action in November 2025, opening a comment period that drew an additional 321 submissions before closing in December.
Spanberger administration’s reversal
After Governor Spanberger succeeded Governor Youngkin in January 2026, the Board of Health withdrew the regulatory action on July 30, citing a review of statutory authority. No public announcement or news release accompanied the decision.
“Upon review of statutory authority, the State Board of Health is not proceeding with this regulatory action,” the official notice read.
Reaction from petitioners
Lily Mullens, who helped lead the original petition, expressed disappointment. She told OutKick, “Under Governor Youngkin’s leadership, Virginia was making tremendous strides toward protecting females by keeping men out of women’s sports and spaces for good. Under the new leadership of Governor Spanberger, that progress has come to a screeching halt.” Mullens added that she felt the governor was ignoring the wishes of Virginia’s female athletes.
Réka György, who competed against Lia Thomas at the 2022 NCAA Championships, also voiced sadness. “It’s really sad for me because I had the petition filed a year ago, and Youngkin approved it and wanted to take the next step and protect female athletes and female spaces in Virginia,” György said.
Governor Spanberger’s stated position
During her 2025 gubernatorial campaign, Spanberger argued that Virginia already had an effective process allowing parents, schools, principals, and coaches to evaluate transgender athletes’ participation on a case‑by‑case basis. She emphasized that decisions should consider a student’s age, the sport, and the level of competition.
Spanberger’s office did not respond to a request for comment on the recent withdrawal.
Implications for Virginia’s sports landscape
The abandonment of the rule leaves the question of how Virginia will handle future disputes over biological sex and athletic participation unresolved. Advocates for sex‑separated sports argue that the lack of clear policy could lead to further legal challenges and uncertainty for female athletes and their families.
Supporters of the original regulation view the Board’s reversal as a setback for protecting women’s sports and private spaces, while opponents of the rule contend that existing school‑level policies are sufficient to address individual cases without statewide mandates.
What’s next?
Stakeholders on both sides are likely to continue lobbying the state government. The Board of Health’s decision does not preclude future legislative action, and the issue may reappear in the Virginia General Assembly or in future gubernatorial initiatives.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
