Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) says legislation to prevent transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports will go to the Senate floor “early next week,” potentially fast-tracking a bill on an issue Republicans and President Trump made central to their campaigns.

The Republican-led House approved Rep. Greg Steube’s (R-Fla.) Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act in January with the help of two Texas Democrats. If the Senate, where Republicans also have the majority, votes to pass the bill, it will head to Trump’s desk, where it is almost certain to be signed into law.

“We’re going to put that on the floor early next week,” Thune said Thursday, appearing on the “Ruthless” podcast. “It’s an issue the House has voted on, and the president issued an executive order. What this would do is codify the executive order.”

Trump’s Feb. 5 executive order aims to bar transgender athletes from competing in girls’ and women’s sports nationwide and directs the Justice Department to take immediate action, including enforcement actions, against........

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