FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, January 13, 2025

ATLANTA | Today, Lt. Governor Burt Jones announced a priority for the 2025 Legislative Session, Senate Bill 1. Senator Greg Dolezal (R – Forsyth) filed Senate Bill 1, the 'Fair and Safe Athletic Opportunities Act’, which would ban biological males from participating in women’s sports across Georgia.

“Biological men do not belong in women’s sports, period,” said Lt. Governor Burt Jones. “This is common sense to everyone but the most radical liberals in Georgia. The Senate has always led the way on protecting women’s sports and with Senate Bill 1, we will continue to be on the right side of this common-sense issue. I will never waver in the fight to protect our sisters and our daughters participating on equal footing in Georgia sports. I look forward to Senate Bill 1 becoming law and the protection of women’s sports becoming a reality for all female athletes in Georgia.”

Senate Bill 1, the 'Fair and Safe Athletic Opportunities Act,' 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. Under SB 1, middle and high schools, along with colleges, (including participating private schools) would be required to designate interscholastic sports teams as either male, female, or co-ed, based on the participant’s sex at birth. Males would not be allowed to participate in any interscholastic competition on any team that is designated as female. Any student will be allowed to participate on a male or co-ed team. The bill also requires separate restrooms and changing areas at athletic events and establishes a grievance procedure. 

By enacting Senate Bill 1, Georgia would join 26 other states that prohibit transgender student participation in sports.

For the current version of Senate Bill 1, please follow this link: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/all

Contact

Policy and Communications Director Ines Owens

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