(Georgia Recorder) — A bill aimed at removing gender-affirming care for transgender state workers covered by the state health insurance plan moved forward in the Georgia House Health Committee after committee Chair Lee Hawkins, a Gainesville Republican, broke a tie vote.
The bill’s author, Vidalia Republican Sen. Blake Tillery, said treatments like hormone therapy or mastectomies will still be available, but not for gender-affirming purposes.
“Senate Bill 39 relates to the state health benefit plan, and it states that the state health benefit plan will not pay for gender-reassignment surgeries or gender care when it’s related to a sex that is not someone’s sex at birth, that is it,” he said.
Democratic state Rep. Kim Schofield of Atlanta questioned the intent behind banning treatments specifically for transgender people.
“I’m concerned about this bill and the public health research on this bill,” she said. “Where is that? Or is this really just a personal ideology?”
“I don’t know that it’s a personal ideology,” Tillery answered. “If it passes the General Assembly, then it would be the ideology of the General Assembly, and if the votes are against it, then it’s not in the ideology of the General Assembly.”
Schofield wasn’t convinced.
“I mean, where’s the research? Where’s the public health research that this is a problem or we should be taking this issue up?” she said. “This is a decision between someone’s personal life, their doctors and their family. It shouldn’t be the General Assembly.”
“Well, ma’am, I beg to differ,” Tillery said.”You’re gonna be asked to vote on a budget that we send back over to you that’s gonna have over roughly $1 billion in the state health benefit plan. If you think that the state should pay for transgender surgeries–”
“I do,” Schofield said.
“– then you should vote against my bill,” Tillery continued.
“And I will,” Schofield said.
Public comment on the bill was largely in opposition.
Attorney Amanda Kay Seals represented transgender state workers in a 2023 lawsuit after they were excluded from the health plan. In that case, the state paid out a $365,000 settlement and removed transgender exclusions.
Seals said passing SB 39 into law will lead to more taxpayer dollars going to settlements.
“Georgia has settled these cases for millions of dollars, not out of the charity to the plaintiffs,” she said. “It’s because these exclusions are legally indefensible, and you will be sued again. The state will be sued again if this bill passes, and again, the exclusions will be legally indefensible. You will spend more money litigating over these exclusions than you would offering this care to state employees and their dependents.”
Dr. Jason Schneider, a physician who treats transgender patients, characterized the bill as government overreach that could harm his patients.
“The government should not be able to overrule a person’s decision to seek health care for themselves and their families, whether they are transgender or not,” he said. “And this would allow, this bill allows politicians to interfere with private decisions between me and my patients, my adult patients. It’s important to know that the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, and every other leading U.S. Medical Professional Association recognizes and supports this care.”
Khara Hayden, a transgender state employee who would be affected by the bill, characterized it as heartless.
“I require hormones. I don’t produce hormones anymore, so this is essentially taking life necessary care away from me,” she said. “It boggles my mind as a Georgian. I’ve been in the state since the first grade. I’ve grown up here. Where is the care for community? Love your neighbor as you love yourself. Treat others the way you want to be treated. This is specifically targeting a group, a very small group of people for no apparent reason other than trying to save money.”
The bill could come up for a full House vote any time between now and the end of the legislative session on April 4.
