| Published April 4, 2025
GOP leader says the ‘disappointing stunt’ shows a ‘troubling disconnect’ with voters, while Democrats blast Republicans for ‘manufactured culture wars’
ATLANTA, GA – A dramatic scene unfolded in the Georgia House of Representatives this week as Democratic lawmakers staged a walkout in protest of a bill that would prohibit state funding for gender-affirming medical care for incarcerated individuals.
The bill, Senate Bill 185, passed the chamber with a 100-2 vote. But the vote was overshadowed by the political theater that preceded it—Georgia Democrats stormed out of the chamber, refusing to participate in what they called a “cruel” and “extreme” agenda by the Republican majority.
What the Bill Does
Senate Bill 185 seeks to end the use of taxpayer dollars for providing sex reassignment surgeries, hormone therapies, and other gender-affirming treatments for prison inmates. The legislation does allow exceptions for medical needs unrelated to gender dysphoria and permits the continuation of hormone therapy only if it was started before incarceration.
Representative Scott Hilton, the bill’s sponsor in the House, defended the measure as a common-sense approach.
“We’re providing a higher standard of care than law-abiding citizens receive,” Hilton said on the House floor, emphasizing the bill is about protecting taxpayer interests.
All but two Democrats in the Georgia State House walked off the floor to avoid voting on a bill to ban taxpayer-funded transgender surgeries for inmates. (Fox 5 Atlanta)
Georgia Republicans have taken an aggressive approach toward transgender issues this legislative session with the introduction of several bills that seek to align with President Donald Trump’s executive orders.
Some of those bills, in addition to SB 185, 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.
It’s unclear how much cosmetic or surgical transgender treatments cost each taxpayer in Georgia, but the Gender Confirmation Center estimates alterations can be anywhere from $8,000 to $50,000, depending on the type of procedure.
The Democratic Rebellion
As debate on the bill intensified, Democrats made a coordinated exit from the chamber—a symbolic gesture intended to draw attention to what they view as a pattern of legislation targeting marginalized communities.
Only five Democrats remained, and just two voted against the bill: Regina Lewis-Ward and David Sampson. Three other Democrats surprisingly voted in favor, while the rest abstained by leaving the chamber.
House Democratic Caucus Chairwoman Tanya Miller condemned the vote as a distraction from “real issues” facing Georgians.
“Georgians deserve leaders who address the serious pressing issues affecting their daily lives, not those pushing divisive policies for political points,” Miller said.
Watch the walkout below:
Not all Democrats participated in the walkout.
A Broader Trend
Georgia is not alone in its legislative push. Other Republican-led states, including Texas, Idaho, Kentucky, and Utah, have passed similar restrictions in recent years as debates surrounding gender identity and medical care continue to polarize statehouses across the country.
For critics, SB 185 is part of a growing culture war strategy that plays to conservative bases ahead of upcoming elections. For supporters, it represents fiscal responsibility and limits what they call “elective procedures” in correctional facilities.
What’s Next
The bill now heads to the desk of Governor Brian Kemp, who is expected to sign it into law. Once signed, Georgia will officially join the ranks of states barring state-funded gender transition procedures for inmates—further igniting a national debate over medical rights, incarceration, and state policy.
