Georgia House Speaker Applauds House Passage of the ‘Riley Gaines Act’

The Georgia House of Representatives has passed House Bill 267, known as the ‘Riley Gaines Act,’ advancing it to the Senate for further consideration. The bill, a legislative priority for House Speaker Jon Burns, seeks to prohibit biological males from competing in girls’ sports at all levels across Georgia.

Speaker Burns praised the bill’s passage, emphasizing the need to protect the integrity and fairness of female athletics. “No young woman should ever be forced to face a biological male on the court, on the field, or in the locker room,” Burns stated. He thanked State Representative Josh Bonner for sponsoring the legislation and recognized former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines for her support.

Gaines, a former University of Kentucky swimmer and 12-time NCAA All-American, has become a national advocate for preserving single-sex competition in women’s sports. She rose to prominence after tying for fifth place in the 200-yard freestyle at the 2022 NCAA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships against transgender swimmer Lia Thomas. Following that event, Gaines has been outspoken on the issue, speaking before legislatures and at public events to push for policies that restrict sports participation based on biological sex. She also launched the Riley Gaines Center, a platform focused on training individuals to advocate for women’s rights and free speech.

The proposed law would require separate sports teams, locker rooms, and athletic scholarships based on biological sex. Additionally, private schools competing against public schools would need to comply with the bill’s standards.

HB 267 now moves to the Georgia Senate for consideration.