A new wave of anti-trans legislation is moving forward across multiple states, with at least four states advancing proposals that could soon be decided directly by voters or enacted through legislatures. The measures, largely backed by Republican lawmakers and advocacy groups, target transgender participation in sports, access to gender-affirming care, and broader civil rights protections.
The proposals reflect a growing trend in 2026: taking anti-trans policies out of legislative gridlock and putting them directly on ballots. Supporters argue that voter referendums represent “the will of the people,” while critics warn the strategy is being used to bypass protections for marginalized groups and turn trans rights into campaign-season talking points.
Maine
What’s happening: Ballot initiative targeting school sports
What it would do:
- Ban transgender girls from participating in girls’ school sports teams
- Override current policies that allow participation based on gender identity
- Put the decision directly in voters’ hands instead of lawmakers
Why it matters: Maine has resisted passing these bans through legislation, so this is a workaround using direct democracy to force the issue onto the ballot.
Colorado
What’s happening: Similar ballot initiative to Maine
What it would do:
- Prohibit transgender student-athletes from competing in girls’ sports
- Replace existing inclusive athletic policies
- Bypass state leadership that previously rejected restrictions
Why it matters: Colorado is considered a more progressive state, so getting this on the ballot signals a broader national strategy to push anti-trans policy even where lawmakers have said no.
Missouri
What’s happening: Constitutional amendment on the 2026 ballot
What it would do:
- Ban gender-affirming care for minors (including hormones and puberty blockers)
- Lock that ban into the state constitution
- Pair the restriction with unrelated abortion limits in the same amendment
Why it matters: This isn’t just a bill; it’s a constitutional change. That makes it harder to reverse and signals a long-term strategy to permanently restrict care.
Washington State
What’s happening: Ballot initiative (IL26-638)
What it would do:
- Ban trans girls from participating in girls’ school sports
- Require verification of “biological sex” through medical documentation
- Potentially force invasive checks tied to eligibility
Why it matters: This goes beyond exclusion and introduces medical scrutiny, raising serious privacy and safety concerns for students.
Much of the current push focuses on restricting transgender athletes. Similar efforts in states like Maine and Colorado have already gathered enough signatures to place bans on ballots, signaling a coordinated national strategy to revisit the issue even in states that previously resisted such laws.
At the same time, lawmakers in other states are advancing bills that go beyond sports. Some proposals seek to limit or ban access to gender-affirming care, while others aim to roll back anti-discrimination protections. In recent months, states including Kansas, Idaho, and Oklahoma have pursued broader restrictions affecting identification documents, healthcare, and public accommodations.
Advocates say this escalation marks a shift from earlier legislation that primarily targeted transgender youth. Increasingly, policies are expanding to affect adults, creating a patchwork of laws that can impact everything from healthcare access to daily life.
Critics, including LGBTQ+ organizations and civil rights groups, warn that these measures could have far-reaching consequences. They argue that ballot initiatives in particular risk reducing complex civil rights issues to simple majority votes, potentially undermining legal protections for vulnerable communities.
Meanwhile, supporters of the measures frame them as necessary to protect fairness in women’s sports or to establish clearer legal definitions of sex. These arguments have become central talking points in both state and national political debates, especially as the issue continues to gain traction in election cycles.
The broader landscape shows no signs of slowing. Across the United States, hundreds of bills targeting transgender people have been introduced in recent years, with many already enacted. As more states move proposals to ballots in 2026, the outcome of these votes could shape the next phase of transgender rights nationwide.
For transgender Americans, the stakes are increasingly personal. What began as a series of isolated state bills has evolved into a coordinated, multi-state effort that could redefine legal protections and everyday realities depending on where someone lives.
