Georgia Senate OKs bill to ban state workers from gender affirming care under state health plan
https://georgiarecorder.com/2025/02/11/georgia-senate-oks-bill-to-ban-state-workers-from-gender-affirming-care-under-state-health-plan/
Ross Williams (11 Feb 2025)
State employees who use the state-sponsored health plan may soon be blocked from receiving gender-affirming care like hormone therapy.
The state Senate passed a bill Tuesday that aims to do just that. Before it can become law, it will need to pass the House by April 4 and be signed by Gov. Brian Kemp. If that happens, state employees who get gender-affirming care through the plan will have until the start of 2026 to find different coverage.
"When the state goes through its open enrollment period, we're making clear to all state employees that we're not gonna use state taxpayer dollars to pay for this gender-affirming care and transgender surgeries any longer," said Senate Bill 39's sponsor, Vidalia Republican Sen. Blake Tillery.
The bill would apply both to state employees on the plan as well as their minor children.
The state previously barred gender affirming care for minors, but Tillery said the bill is necessary because a loophole could allow parents to obtain banned treatments for their minor children by using the state plan.