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Senate Passes Bill to Prohibit Taxpayer Funding for Gender Transition Procedures

Senate Bill 39 Passes GA Senate

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The Georgia Senate has passed Senate Bill 39, a measure that would prohibit the use of state funds for gender transition-related medical procedures, including hormone therapies and sex reassignment surgeries. The bill passed in a 33-19 vote on Tuesday.

Legislation Overview

Senate Bill 39, sponsored by Republican Senators Tillery, Summers, Robertson, Watson, Walker III, and Cobb’s John Albers, seeks to prevent state-sponsored healthcare plans from covering gender-affirming treatments. Specifically, the legislation:

  • Bars state health insurance plans from covering sex reassignment surgeries and hormone therapy.
  • Prohibits state-run healthcare facilities and state-employed medical providers from offering these treatments.
  • Blocks the use of taxpayer funds to pay for gender transition-related care through public assistance programs.

The bill includes limited exceptions, such as cases involving medically verifiable disorders of sex development, but otherwise prohibits state-funded healthcare coverage for gender-transition procedures.

Legislative Context

SB 39 builds on Senate Bill 140, a law passed in 2023 that restricted certain gender-transition procedures for minors in Georgia. The new legislation extends restrictions to state-funded healthcare coverage for adults, following a recent legal settlement that required Georgia’s state health plan to cover transition-related treatments.

Prior to the settlement, Georgia’s state health benefit plan excluded coverage for gender transition-related procedures. However, a lawsuit brought by state employees and advocacy groups led to a $365,000 settlement, which required the state to implement transgender-related health coverage. The settlement also covered part of the plaintiffs’ legal expenses.

Supporters of SB 39 argue that healthcare decisions involving gender-transition treatments should not be taxpayer-funded. Critics, however, contend that the bill discriminates against transgender individuals by restricting access to medical care.

Support and Opposition

Republicans backing the bill argue that public funds should be reserved for essential medical care, not elective procedures related to gender transition. Supporters also say the measure ensures that Georgia taxpayers are not forced to subsidize controversial elective medical treatments.

Sen. Blake Tillery (R-19th), a key sponsor of the bill, pointed to concerns over the rapid increase in gender dysphoria diagnoses and the long-term effects of hormone therapies and surgeries.

“The state has a responsibility to be good stewards of taxpayer money,” Tillery said. “This bill ensures that state funds are not used for procedures that remain the subject of ongoing medical and legal debate.”

Democrats, however, strongly opposed the bill, arguing that it denies necessary healthcare to transgender individuals and could have harmful consequences for those seeking treatment.

Sen. Kim Jackson (D-41st) criticized the bill, saying, “This legislation sends a message that transgender Georgians do not deserve access to the same medical care as others. It is discriminatory, and it will negatively impact people’s lives.”

Next Steps

With the bill’s passage in the Georgia Senate, SB 39 now moves to the House of Representatives. The outcome of the bill remains uncertain in the House, where similar legislation has drawn sharp debate in previous sessions. If enacted, Georgia would join other states that have restricted public funding for gender transition-related healthcare.

As SB 39 advances through the legislature, the debate over state-funded gender transition procedures continues. The bill’s fate now rests with the Georgia House of Representatives, which will determine whether it moves forward for final approval.

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