News from the South - Georgia News Feed
Georgia Senate OKs bill to outlaw gender-affirming care for inmates in state custody
Georgia Senate OKs bill to outlaw gender-affirming care for inmates in state custody
by Ross Williams, Georgia Recorder
March 4, 2025
A bill banning gender-affirming treatments for inmates in state custody passed the Georgia Senate Monday.
Senate Bill 185’s sponsor, Cataula Republican Sen. Randy Robertson, said there are three lawsuits ongoing from inmates seeking gender-affirming care and he wants to nip the issue in the bud.
“When you see the tsunami coming, a lot of people wait until it’s at the shore, to start sandbagging and evacuating everybody and doing what you need to do,” he said. “I think if you look at the temperature that not only are we experiencing here in the United States, and obviously by these three lawsuits, people are attempting to do this, and it is the responsibility of this body and the body across the way to make sure we are prepared for what comes down the road, because as someone who understands crisis management and other things, you don’t wait.”
The bill passed with some bipartisan support, with several Democrats joining all Republicans voting in favor of the bill, and others simply not voting. Sens. Sonya Halpert, Ed Harbison and Elena Parent crossed party lines to support the bill, while Sens. Tonya Anderson, Jason Esteves, Randal Mangham and Nikki Merritt did not vote.
Roswell Republican Sen. John Albers gleefully pointed out the disunity among the Democrats.
“Let’s be honest, you as Democrats, in your own caucus are divided on this issue,” he said. “Throughout the last several votes, some of you voted with us, and others took a walk and did not vote at all. The overwhelming number of Georgians and Americans, both Republicans and Democrats, support this bill and the others. Candidly, if you vote against this bill, you are politically tone deaf.”
Parent proposed an amendment that would have allowed some inmates to continue taking hormones they had already been taking.
“I don’t believe that taxpayers should be responsible for funding the surgeries outlined in lines 68-69 and 71-72, including gender affirming surgeries, cosmetic procedures, or prosthetics,” Parent said. “But on the other hand, I believe that denying transgender prisoners access to gender affirming hormones that they are already taking, and in some cases may have been taking for years, is cruel and unnecessary.”
The Senate voted down the amendment.
Halpern characterized the bill as a distraction.
“Not one tax dollar in Georgia has ever been spent on sex change surgeries for inmates, so let’s not pretend this is about fiscal responsibility,” she said. “This bill simply makes explicit what is already the practice in Georgia, and yet here we are debating this as if it were some looming crisis, as if Georgia’s prisons were on the verge of becoming gender-affirming care centers at the taxpayer’s expense. Let me be clear, that is not the reality here in Georgia.”
“But I am also a pragmatist,” she added, “and the simple truth is that I cannot in good conscience support taxpayer-funded medical procedures for prisoners that we do not provide to law-abiding citizens who are struggling every day to afford basic health care.”
Democrats who opposed the bill characterized it as cruel and unconstitutional.
“I know good and well that public polling does not support gender-affirming care for people who are incarcerated,” said Stone Mountain Democratic Sen. Kim Jackson. “But I am keenly aware of our history, a history in which public opinion has often not been on the right side of justice, a history in which public polling has often sided with the majority and further isolated and forsaken the minority. I know this is not politically popular, but I stand here today urging my colleagues to vote no on this bill, to vote no as a sign of your commitment to humanity. Vote no for dignity. Colleagues, I beg you, do not let public polling persuade you to do something that you know in your heart is fundamentally unconstitutional, and quite frankly, is downright immoral.”
Sen. Josh McLaurin, a Sandy Springs Democrat, said the bill could be seen as a violation of the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution.
“The Eighth Amendment being the one that says no cruel and unusual punishment,” he said. “I.e. you can’t deny medical care while you’re incarcerated because you don’t have the means to go get your own care. You’re stuck. So the state has to provide your health care. And the study committee in question was the safety and welfare of all individuals in the Georgia Department of Corrections. And yet, this bill just exempts medical care from one group of those individuals.”
Robertson said he welcomes prospective lawsuits.
“People came to the committee and said this will open up more opportunity for individuals to sue, and my response to that is I’m fine with that,” he said. “Every piece of legislation that comes out of this building is subject to being challenged in court. We say it many times, you can write the best piece of legislation you want, but until it is evaluated and pressure-tested by a man or woman wearing a black robe, then you really don’t know how good the legislation is.”
The Senate separately passed a bill Monday banning puberty blocking medications for minors.
The Senate has previously passed anti-transgender bills including bills to ban gender-affirming treatments from transgender state employees and their children on the state health care plan and to keep transgender girls off girls’ school sports teams. The House has passed its own transgender sports ban. The bills have until April 4 to make it to the governor’s desk.
YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE.
Georgia Recorder is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Georgia Recorder maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor John McCosh for questions: info@georgiarecorder.com.
The post Georgia Senate OKs bill to outlaw gender-affirming care for inmates in state custody appeared first on georgiarecorder.com
News from the South - Georgia News Feed
Schools navigate challenges in federal clean bus program | FOX 5 News
SUMMARY: The Biden administration’s $5 billion Clean School Bus Rebate Program, launched in 2022 to transition school districts to zero-emission electric buses, faces significant challenges. Mechanical issues and lack of affordable repairs have sidelined hundreds of electric buses, worsened by the financial collapse of major supplier Lion Electric. Lion’s bankruptcy led to maintenance warranty voids, leaving districts like Yarmouth, Maine, and Illinois struggling with non-functional buses. The EPA is monitoring the situation and supporting affected districts. However, other districts, such as Little Rock, Arkansas, using different vendors like Blue Bird, continue to benefit from the clean bus initiative, viewing it as an investment in student health and safety.
The Biden administration launched a program to help schools transition to cleaner buses. While some districts have reported success, others are experiencing difficulties tied to certain suppliers. Federal officials say they are continuing to monitor the situation as schools adjust.
Subscribe to FOX 5 Atlanta!: https://bit.ly/3vpFpcm
Watch FOX 5 Atlanta Live: https://www.fox5atlanta.com/live
FOX 5 Atlanta delivers breaking news, live events, investigations, politics, entertainment, business news and local stories from metro Atlanta, north Georgia and across the nation.
Watch more from FOX 5 Atlanta on YouTube:
FOX 5 News: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUgtVJuOxfqkmrF1fONNmi8nKI0Z-FPE-
FOX 5 Atlanta I-Team: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUgtVJuOxfqlb_I16wBwizoAoUsfKEeWB
Good Day Atlanta: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUgtVJuOxfqlKT5xsbsPFgr5EBzdsWTvG
FOX 5 Extras: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUgtVJuOxfqli-5MS_2X-i6bNGWvV0RYP
You Decide: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUgtVJuOxfqnCKb7UkRde2NXuaoPEAXut
Download the FOX 5 Atlanta app: https://www.fox5atlanta.com/app
Download the FOX 5 Storm Team app: https://www.fox5atlanta.com/storm
Follow FOX 5 Atlanta on Facebook: https://facebook.com/fox5atlanta
Follow FOX 5 Atlanta on Twitter: https://twitter.com/FOX5Atlanta
Follow FOX 5 Atlanta on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fox5atlanta/
Subscribe to the Morning Brief and other newsletters from FOX 5 Atlanta: https://www.fox5atlanta.com/email
News from the South - Georgia News Feed
Aiken neighbors join Labor Day rallies for workers’ rights
SUMMARY: On Labor Day in Aiken, S.C., neighbors joined the nationwide Workers Over Billionaires movement to advocate for workers’ rights and social justice. Among them was Anthony Espinoza, whose husband was detained by ICE, highlighting personal struggles with mental health and financial stability. The diverse crowd united in demanding fairness, criticizing government policies favoring billionaires over vulnerable citizens. Speakers emphasized the need for democratic preservation, equitable tax policies, and support for the working class. Organizers urged civic engagement through protests and contacting representatives. Future rallies, including a statewide event in Columbia, are planned to continue the fight for dignity, fairness, and hope.
Read the full article
The post Aiken neighbors join Labor Day rallies for workers’ rights appeared first on www.wjbf.com
News from the South - Georgia News Feed
Labor Day crowds hit Tybee as beach safety warnings rise
SUMMARY: Over Labor Day weekend on Tybee Island, Georgia, strong winds and waves created hazardous water conditions, prompting lifeguards to warn swimmers about dangerous rip currents. White-capped waves and rough surf led to a red flag warning, with officials considering a double red flag to restrict swimming to knee-deep water for safety. Rip currents cause over 80% of US beach rescues, especially during busy holidays. Lifeguard supervisor Jackson Vrisco emphasized alertness and monitoring conditions, while Mayor Brian West advised those caught in rip currents to stay calm and let the current carry them before swimming back. Visitors should heed flag warnings near lifeguard towers.
The post Labor Day crowds hit Tybee as beach safety warnings rise appeared first on www.wsav.com
-
Mississippi Today3 days ago
DEI, campus culture wars spark early battle between likely GOP rivals for governor in Mississippi
-
Mississippi Today7 days ago
Judge: Felony disenfranchisement a factor in ruling on Mississippi Supreme Court districts
-
News from the South - North Carolina News Feed5 days ago
Parasocial party: Why people are excited for the Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce engagement
-
News from the South - Louisiana News Feed6 days ago
K+20: Katrina alters local health care landscape, though underlying ills still the same
-
Local News7 days ago
Parents of missing 7-month-old California boy are charged with murder
-
Our Mississippi Home6 days ago
The Great Backyard Recovery – Helping Birds After the Storm
-
Local News Video4 days ago
08/29 Ryan's “Wet End to the Week” Friday Forecast
-
News from the South - Florida News Feed6 days ago
Man who shot ex-girlfriend died after shootout with deputies at apartment complex, MDSO says