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PROPOSITION 318; REFERRED TO THE PEOPLE BY THE LEGISLATURE RELATING TO STUDENT ATHLETICS Official Title: REFERRED TO THE PEOPLE BY THE LEGISLATURE RELATING TO STUDENT ATHLETICS Descriptive Title: REQUIRES ALL SCHOOLS AND ATHLETIC ASSOCIATIONS TO DESIGNATE ATHLETIC TEAMS AS MALE, FEMALE, OR COED BASED ON THE BIOLOGICAL SEX OF THE ATHLETES AS DEFINED AT BIRTH; PROHIBITS THESE ENTITIES FROM AUTHORIZING USE OF PRIVATE SPACES NOT DESIGNATED FOR A PERSON'S SEX. Ballot measures approved by Arizona voters are difficult to change. Constitutional amendments can be changed only if voters approve another constitutional amendment. Voter-approved laws are protected by Arizona’s Voter Protection Act, which prohibits the Legislature from repealing them and allows amendments only with a three-fourths vote of each legislative chamber when the amendment furthers the measure’s original purpose.Impact on ArizonansA YES vote will change Arizona law governing school athletics by requiring schools and athletic associations to designate interscholastic and intramural teams based on sex as recorded at birth on an athlete's original birth certificate. Female-designated teams could not be open to male athletes. Beginning January 1, 2027, schools and athletic associations also could not authorize an individual to use restrooms, locker rooms, shower rooms, or other private spaces integral to athletic participation that are not designated for that individual's sex. The measure would also expand provisions allowing lawsuits for violations.A NO vote will maintain current Arizona law governing interscholastic and intramural athletic teams and would not add the measure's new requirements concerning restrooms, locker rooms, shower rooms, and other private athletic spaces or its expanded provisions concerning athletic associations and legal actions.BackgroundProposition 318, referred to the ballot as HCR2003, concerns participation in school athletics and the use of certain private athletic facilities. Arizona law currently requires interscholastic and intramural teams sponsored by covered schools to be designated as male, female, or coed based on biological sex. It prohibits male students from participating on female-designated teams.Proposition 318 would revise and expand these requirements to schools and athletic associations and add requirements governing the use of restrooms, locker rooms, shower rooms, and other private spaces integral to athletic participation. For purposes of the measure, “sex” means an individual's biological status as male or female as recorded at birth on the individual's original birth certificate.Key ProvisionsProposition 318 concerns participation in school athletics and the use of certain private athletic facilities. Arizona law currently requires interscholastic and intramural teams sponsored by covered schools to be designated as male, female, or coed based on biological sex. It prohibits male students from participating on female-designated teams.Proposition 318 would revise and expand these requirements to schools and athletic associations and add requirements governing the use of restrooms, locker rooms, shower rooms, and other private spaces integral to athletic participation. For purposes of the measure, “sex” means an individual's biological status as male or female as recorded at birth on the individual's original birth certificate.Fiscal AnalysisThe legislative materials do not identify an anticipated impact on the state General Fund. The measure could result in costs for schools or athletic associations associated with implementation or litigation, but the materials reviewed do not provide an estimate of those potential costs. For more information:Official Ballot LanguageArizona Joint Legislative Budget Committee: NonePublicly filed arguments for Publicly filed arguments againstDownload 2026 BALLOT PROPOSITIONS: MEET VOTE411LWVAZ nonpartisan guide to all the 2026 ballot propositions