Senator outlines bill to codify sex-separated sports rules for K–12 and expand to college

Senator Dolezal, sponsor of Senate Bill 1, told the committee the measure would codify existing Georgia High School Association eligibility rules for K–12 athletics and expand them to intercollegiate sports.

The bill, which Dolezal said has been renamed the Riley Gaines Act and incorporates elements from a House measure, also includes provisions the House had added addressing dressing rooms and carve-outs for coaches and athletic trainers. "Senate Bill 1 ... exists currently exclusively as a sports bill," Dolezal said.

Whip Park asked whether there are any publicly confirmed instances of a transgender student participating in public high school sports in Georgia; Park said he understood there were none. Dolezal responded that, to his knowledge, that is correct and that the Georgia High School Association has addressed eligibility by rule. He said SB 1 would codify those rules in state law for K–12 and extend similar rules to college athletics.

A committee member asked whether the bill would open schools to litigation; Dolezal acknowledged the bill includes a private right of action and explained that the measure relies on the existing complaint process in Georgia public schools rather than the professional standards commission approach used in the House bill.

No committee action was recorded on SB 1 in this hearing; the presentation concluded with an offer from the sponsor to answer further questions.

The committee heard this item as part of a hearing-only agenda; no vote on SB 1 was taken at this meeting.