Georgia’s Republican state senators have passed a bill that would impose conservative policies on the state’s public schools, including banning transgender girls from playing high school sports with other girls, limiting sex education, and requiring parents to be notified of every item their child obtains in a school library. The bill, which originally focused on suicide prevention, was heavily amended in the Senate to include several other bills that had previously failed to pass. The bill was supported by Republican Lt. Governor Burt Jones, who is potentially preparing for a gubernatorial run in 2026.
The measure would ban transgender girls from competing in girls’ high school sports, while transgender boys and girls playing sports would be prohibited from using multi-occupancy restrooms or locker rooms that match their gender identity. The bill does not appear to ban transgender boys and girls from all bathrooms that align with their gender identity. Additionally, the bill would allow schools to drop sex education and require students to specifically opt-in for enrollment. The measure would ban all sex education for fifth grade and below, with minimal explicit discussion of human reproduction until eighth grade.
Opponents of the bill warn that the opt-in provision for sex education may lead to many parents unintentionally failing to enroll their children. Senator Josh McLaurin, an Atlanta Democrat, criticized the bill as a means of preventing discussions about sex so that a few parents who feel uncomfortable can delay the conversation with their children. The bill also includes a provision that would allow parents to receive an email whenever their child obtains library material and gives parents the right to access all information about their child, including reports of behavior patterns, academic interventions, and access to classroom, library, and extracurricular activities.
One resident, Jennifer Hadley, who has a transgender son, expressed concern about the impact of the bill on her son’s participation in activities like band. She emphasized the mental toll of uncertainty that such legislation creates for transgender teenagers. Representative Omari Crawford, who originally sponsored the bill’s focus on suicide prevention, has expressed opposition to the amended bill, suggesting that the additional provisions could potentially exacerbate suicide rates. Critics argue that the bill is part of a larger effort to impose conservative values on public education and restrict discussions about important topics like sex education.
While it remains unclear how the bill will be received by the more moderate House, supporters say the measure is designed to protect children and empower parents. Republican Senator Clint Dixon, who led the bill, believes that children’s innocence should be protected, and that parents should have control over their children’s education. However, opponents argue that the bill is a misguided attempt to promote conservative values that may have unintended consequences, particularly for marginalized groups like transgender students. With the passage of this bill, Georgia is joining a growing number of states where conservative lawmakers are pushing for stricter regulation of public education.
