The Georgia legislature gave final approval Monday to Senate Bill 1, the ‘Riley Gaines Act of 2025.’
The bill, which would ban biological males from participating in women’s’ sports across Georgia, was a legislative priority for both House Speaker Jon Burns (R-Newington) and Lt. Governor Burt Jones for the 2025 legislative session.
The bill now heads to Governor Kemp’s desk for signing.
Among the provisions in the bill:
- Defines athletic event, female, male, multiple occupancy restroom or changing area, and sex (in biological context of male or female)
- Male defined as an individual who has, had, or will have a reproductive system capable of generation, migration, and utilization of sperm for fertilization or would have such capabilities but for a developmental or genetic anomaly or historical accident
- Female defined as an individual who has, had, or will have the reproductive system capable of generation, migration, and utilization of eggs for fertilization or would have such capabilities but for a developmental or genetic anomaly or historical accident
- Public Schools
- “To ensure privacy and safety of students in public schools,” public schools are required to:
- designate areas for exclusive use by each respective sex – restrooms, locker rooms, changing rooms, and shower rooms.
- provide reasonable accommodations to individuals who are unwilling or unable to use multi-occupancy restrooms or changing areas for each respective sex
- by giving them a single-occupancy restroom or changing area
- does not mean the school must allow a person of one sex to use an area designated for another sex while other individuals of opposite sex are present
- The bill
- outlined exclusions on sexes entering opposite sex areas/restrooms for custodial/maintenance work, emergency medical assistance, to address an ongoing emergency (including a physical altercation), a minor child accompanied by a parent/legal guardian, performance of official duties by coaches and trainers
- Leaves room for local school systems to adopt policies to comply with federal ADA while still adhering to this state measure
- Gives Professional Standards Commission the authority to investigate complaints alleging noncompliance and issue sanctions against public school employees/agents
- Gives parent/legal guardian cause of action against a public school if a student:
- Encounters a member of the opposite sex in a multiple occupancy restroom or changing area designated for individuals whose sex is the same as the student AND the student of the opposite sex was given permission by an official, employee, or agent of the local school system
- Is required by an official/employee/agent to share sleeping quarters with a member of the opposite sex
- Gives the State Board of Education the authority to regulate this with rules and policies
- “To ensure privacy and safety of students in public schools,” public schools are required to:
Similar provisions apply to Georgia publicly funded colleges and universities.
“Today, the General Assembly sent a clear message—biological men are not welcome in girls’ sports or spaces here in Georgia,” said Speaker Jon Burns. “The House was proud to support this measure, which builds on prior protections championed by the House, that protects integrity and fairness for the millions of female athletes who compete across our state. We’re grateful for the support of our colleagues in the Senate who worked alongside us to restore much-needed common sense to athletic competition, and to Riley Gaines who lent us her name and support in the fight to protect Georgia’s athletes.”
“Today, the Georgia General Assembly made a historic step toward achieving a critical goal for this session, the protection of women’s sports,” said Lt. Governor Burt Jones. “Since I took office in 2023 as Lt. Governor, the Senate has led the way to make protections for females competing in athletics on any level a reality. I had the honor of joining President Trump earlier this year when he signed an executive order ensuring these protections on the federal level, and I am proud that Georgia is leading the way on this effort. I want to thank all of the brave women and girls who shared their personal stories and helped shaped this legislation. Their courage is commendable and ensures that the rights of female athletes are preserved and protected by law. I look forward to standing with Governor Brian Kemp, Speaker Jon Burns and female athletes with their families around the state when the ‘Riley Gaines Act of 2025’ is signed into law.”
Senate Bill 1, the ‘Riley Gaines Act of 2025,’ is based on legislative findings relating to the need to protect girls’ and women’s athletics and the work of the Senate Special Committee on the Protection of Women’s Sports, which Lt. Governor Jones created and appointed. By enacting Senate Bill 1, Georgia would join 26 other states that protect women’s sports.
