Bills fast-tracked to governor’s desk in final week of Ga.’s legislative session
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - On Monday, Georgia lawmakers fast-tracked two bills for a vote. Each voted on in one chamber and then immediately transmitted to the next.
Senate Bill 1 is a priority bill of Lt. Gov. Burt Jones. It would ban transgender women from competing in women’s sports.
“Today, the Georgia General Assembly made a historic step toward achieving a critical goal for this session — the protection of women’s sports,” Jones said. “Since I took office in 2023 as lieutenant governor, the Senate has led the way to make protections for females competing in athletics on any level a reality. I had the honor of ing President Trump earlier this year when he signed an executive order ensuring these protections on the federal level, and I am proud that Georgia is leading the way on this effort.”
Jones said, “I want to thank all of the brave women and girls who shared their personal stories and helped shape this legislation. Their courage is commendable and ensures that the rights of female athletes are preserved and protected by law. I look forward to standing with Gov. Brian Kemp, Speaker Jon Burns and female athletes with their families around the state when the ‘Riley Gaines Act of 2025′ is signed into law.”
The bill faced few obstacles with the Republican majority in both the House and Senate.
Georgia Equality Executive Director Jeff Graham called the bill a diversion from the real issues.
“We could be talking about jobs, the economy, guaranteed access to healthcare, affordable housing. These are a lot of issues that got shoved to the side during this legislative session so that we could focus on who gets to play in sports,” said Graham.
House Bill 268 is a priority bill for Burns. It is a school safety bill, focused on creating a statewide framework for mental health and emergency response.
“As legislators, we have no higher calling than to provide every student across our state with a safe and secure learning environment — and today’s age of House Bill 268 affirms our commitment to doing just that,” said Burns. “This legislation is the result of months of collaboration with educators, students, parents, school s and law enforcement agencies to develop a comprehensive school safety plan that addresses the security needs of our school buildings, prioritizes the mental health of Georgia’s students and ensures we take proactive measures to keep our children safe.”
House Bill honoring Original 33 es Ga. State Senate
State Representative Carl Gilliard announced the final age of House Bill 303 on Monday.
It once included a provision for the creation of a statewide database to track students of concern.
In the weeks following the Apalachee High School deadly shooting in 2024, Atlanta News First learned about an early incident involving the suspected shooter.
Apalachee alum Layla Contreras has pushed for legislative change following the shooting. She feels strongly that a database is needed to help keep students safe.
“We really need this ed. If we had had this a couple of years ago, this could have been prevented,” said Contreras.
Speaking out on the highly controversial bill banning trans girls and women from competing in girls’ sports, Republican state Rep. Josh Bonner shared a story about a fight at his daughter’s school.
“After class, a boy pretending to be a girl jumped my daughter’s friend, beat my daughter’s friend mercifully. It took four individuals. Couldn’t even pull him off. So don’t tell me there is not an advantage to being a biological male,” he said.
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While Democrat after Democrat took to the well in opposition to the bill, Graham watched as lawmakers voted to the measure and immediately transmit it to the Senate.
Georgia State Director for the Human Rights Campaign, Bentley Hudgins said their team also showed up in opposition of the bill. Hudgins called the bill hurtful.
“Senate Bill 1 is a cruel attack on children, and young transgender people across the state of Georgia,” said Bentley Hudgins, Humans Rights Campaign Georgia State Director.
The bill ed on Transgender Day of Visibility which is a day marked to honor trans people while bringing awareness to the discrimination they face.
Hudgins said as a trans and non-binary person, they just want to be left alone.
Hudgins said, “but really to be treated as equals. I want to tell the kids out there, while they may legislate against us, they may introduce hateful bills, we are not going to go anywhere, they are scared of our power because they are scared of our joy.
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State Sen. Bill Cowsert teared up in the well during the age of the school safety bill.
“Let’s make sure they don’t die in vain,” he said.
After privacy concerns from parents, Cowsert changed the language of the bill. He said the bill would no longer create a statewide database under GEMA to track concerning students who may move schools. Some of the Winder community were left disappointed.
Lawmakers with their backs against the wall, Friday is their last day to meet ahead of the critical Sine Die deadline.
Both bills now head to Kemp’s desk.
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