Georgia House Democrats staged a walkout Thursday in protest of Senate Bill 185, which bans taxpayer-funded sex reassignment surgeries and hormone treatments for prison inmates. The bill, sponsored by Republican state Sen. Randy Robertson, passed the House 100-2 and now heads to Republican Governor Brian Kemp for his signature.
SB 185 prohibits the Georgia Department of Corrections from covering the cost of transgender medical procedures. Robertson stated that around five inmates currently receive such treatments. The bill aligns with several measures introduced this session to reinforce biological sex definitions and end taxpayer funding for gender-related procedures, in line with recent executive orders from President Donald Trump.
Republican House Majority Whip James Burchett called the Democratic walkout a “disappointing stunt” and accused Democrats of failing to defend their position. “Rather than debate its merits, they chose to abandon their duties by leaving the chamber,” Burchett said.
Democratic House Whip Sam Park responded that Republicans were wasting time on culture war issues while Georgians face economic hardship. “We walked out to make it clear: Georgia Democrats are here to fight for working families, not political distractions,” Park said.
Only two Democrats remained in the chamber to vote against the bill. Republican lawmakers maintained that the legislation is necessary to protect taxpayer dollars and maintain the integrity of the prison system. Rep. Houston Gaines, vice chairman of the Georgia House Majority Caucus, said the walkout “was a disgraceful display of misplaced priorities.”
If enacted, Georgia would join states like Utah and Kentucky that have moved to restrict taxpayer-funded transgender procedures for inmates. The bill’s supporters point to the high cost of surgeries, which can range from $8,000 to $50,000, depending on the procedure, according to the Gender Confirmation Center.
The measure is part of a broader push by Georgia Republicans this session to enact laws reflecting Trump’s federal directives. These include bans on taxpayer-funded transgender medical treatments for state employees, restrictions on puberty blockers for minors, and prohibitions on biological males participating in girls’ sports.
