Arizona Voters Will Decide on Proposition 318 in November
Arizona families will vote on a ballot measure affecting K-12 school sports and facility access this November 3.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Secondary Education
Live Poll
Should schools in your area be required to designate sports teams by biological sex?
Arizona voters will head to the polls on November 3, 2026, to decide on Proposition 318, a ballot measure that would mandate K-12 sports teams and bathroom access be designated by biological sex. If approved, the measure would require schools to define athletic teams as male, female, or coed based on a student's original birth certificate.
Why it matters
The proposal aims to address ongoing debates regarding competitive fairness and safety for female student-athletes. Conversely, critics argue the policy would be discriminatory toward transgender youth and impact the operations of private schools in the state.
Proposition 318, referred by the legislature under House Concurrent Resolution 2003, would mandate that athletic teams and facility access align with biological sex at birth. The Arizona Interscholastic Association has reported no transgender student-athletes in the state since 2022.
The players
Doug Ducey
Former Arizona Governor who signed the Save Women's Sports Act into law in 2022.
Arizona Interscholastic Association
The governing body for high school athletics in Arizona that manages sports team designations and policies.
The details
Under the measure, sex is defined as an individual's biological status recorded on their original birth certificate. Schools would be required to label sports teams as male, female, or coed, and restrict access to bathrooms, showers, and locker rooms based on these designations. The proposal also grants athletes the right to file lawsuits against schools if they believe these provisions have been violated.
Timeline
March 2022: Governor Ducey signed the Save Women's Sports Act.
July 2026: Plaintiffs dropped a lawsuit against the Save Women's Sports Act following a Supreme Court ruling.
November 3, 2026: Arizona voters will decide on Proposition 318.
January 1, 2027: The measure will take effect if approved by voters.
The Home Front
Proposition 318 follows a pattern set by the Save Women's Sports Act of 2022 by further codifying biological sex requirements in state school operations. It represents an ongoing legislative effort to establish standardized state-level regulations for K-12 facilities and sports programs.
Families with school-aged children should monitor the election results on November 3 to understand how school facility and sports team policies may change in the coming year. If the measure passes, prepare for administrative changes in district policies regarding extracurricular activities starting January 1, 2027.
The takeaway
Proposition 318 would codify biological sex requirements for school sports and facilities starting in 2027 if passed. Parents can review their local school district's current student handbook to understand existing facility policies ahead of the upcoming election.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in local school policies in Arizona Secondary Education.
Live Poll
Should schools in your area be required to designate sports teams by biological sex?
