Georgia state House Democrats recently staged a walkout to protest a vote on a bill that would prohibit taxpayer-funded sex change surgeries for inmates in the state. The bill, SB 185, passed on a 100-2 vote, with both recorded no votes coming from Democrats. Sponsored by Republican state Sen. Randy Robertson, the legislation bars the Georgia Department of Corrections from providing taxpayer-funded transgender medical treatments, including surgeries and hormonal treatments, to prison inmates. There are approximately five inmates in the DOC currently receiving such treatments. The bill is now awaiting Republican Gov. Brian Kemp’s signature.
Republican House Majority Whip James Burchett criticized the Democrats’ walkout, calling it a “disappointing stunt” that demonstrated a disconnect between Democrats and the values of the people they serve. He accused Democrats of abandoning their duties by leaving the chamber rather than engaging in a debate on the merits of the bill. However, Democratic House Whip Sam Park argued that it was Republicans who were playing politics and wasting time on “manufactured culture wars” while Georgians faced economic challenges. He stated that Democrats walked out to make it clear that they are fighting for working families, not engaging in political distractions.
Georgia Republicans have introduced several bills this legislative session aimed at addressing transgender issues and aligning with President Donald Trump’s executive orders. In addition to SB 185, these bills include blocking taxpayer-funded medical treatments for state employees, prohibitions on prescribing puberty blockers to minors, and a ban on biological males competing in girls’ high school sports. The cost of cosmetic or surgical transgender treatments in Georgia is unclear, with estimates ranging from $8,000 to $50,000 per procedure. Other states, such as Utah and Kentucky, have also introduced similar bills to ban taxpayer-funded transgender treatments for inmates.
In 2017, California became one of the first states to provide transgender procedures for prison inmates after a legal battle initiated by an inmate two years earlier. Under Trump’s executive orders signed in 2025, federally-funded initiatives related to “gender ideology” were rolled back. These orders define “sex” strictly as male or female, mandate federal agencies to conform to this definition, and prohibit transgender individuals from using single-sex federally-funded facilities. They also prevent federally-funded transgender treatments for both inmates and minors, as well as ban biological males from competing in women’s sports.
Rep. Houston Gaines, vice chairman of the Georgia House Majority Caucus, condemned the walkout staged by Georgia Democrats, describing it as a “disgraceful display of misplaced priorities.” He criticized the lawmakers for abandoning their duty to represent their constituents and engage in the democratic process to instead grandstand on an issue that he believes most Georgians find absurd. The walkout by Georgia Democrats has sparked a debate over the allocation of taxpayer funds for transgender medical treatments for inmates, with both Republicans and Democrats asserting their positions on the matter. The bill now awaits the governor’s signature before becoming law.
