South West Illinois News

David Friess, the candidate for Illinois State House District 115, stated, "I brought forth the Classification by Biological Sex Act because it’s crucial we recognize and respect the biological distinctions between male and female." In his bid for re-election, Friess further added, "This bill will ensure clarity and consistency in defining terms related to sex, ultimately promoting fairness and equality in our communities."

"I brought forth the Classification by Biological Sex Act because it's crucial we recognize and respect the biological distinctions between male and female," said H Friess, State Representative, according to Facebook. "It is critical for public institutions to accurately classify individuals based on their sex at birth for so many reasons. This bill will ensure clarity and consistency in defining terms related to sex, ultimately promoting fairness and equality in our communities."

Friess introduced House Bill 5830 on April 29, 2024. According to the Illinois General Assembly web page dedicated to the bill, it "creates the Classification by Biological Sex Act." The bill stipulates that any public school or school district and any state or local agency, department, or office collecting vital statistics for compliance with anti-discrimination laws or for gathering public health, crime, economic, or other data should classify each individual as either male or female at birth. The bill underwent its first reading on April 30 and was subsequently referred to the Rules committee. Since then, twelve co-sponsors have joined.

Screenshot of Rep. David Friess' May 17 Facebook post | Rep. David Friess' Facebook page

In a Facebook post sharing a link to a news release on his official House of Representatives website, Friess discussed his thoughts on the bill during a press conference at the state capitol. The news release indicates that "in addition to these provisions, HB 5830 also sets forth the meaning of key terms related to sex, such as female and male, woman and girl, man and boy, and mother and father in statutes rules and regulations." However, it does not elaborate on why accurate classification of individuals at birth is necessary.

Friess has been representing the 115th House District since 2023; before this tenure he represented House District 116. His shift in position was due to redistricting. Born and raised in Illinois where he currently resides with his family in Red Bud. After graduating from high school Friess served in Operation Desert Storm as part of Air Force; following which he worked as a mechanic for Delta Airlines. He holds a degree in criminal justice from Mercer University and a Juris Doctor from John Marshall Law School, according to his official biography.