Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed legislation Monday barring males from female scholastic sports starting in sixth grade, joining a majority of states requiring students to compete based on sex at birth.
Senate Bill 1, known as the “Riley Gaines Act of 2025,” also requires schools to designate by sex such facilities as restrooms, changing rooms and sleeping quarters.
“Girls should not have to share a playing field, a restroom, or a locker room with boys and vice versa,” said the Republican governor, who was joined by his wife Marty at the signing ceremony in Atlanta.
The Georgia High School Association had already approved a policy requiring students to compete based on sex as opposed to gender identity, but the legislation extends the rule to collegiate sports and gives it the force of law.
“As the parents of three daughters, Marty and I know just how important it is to keep our children safe and to give them the best possible start in life,” Mr. Kemp said in a statement. “That’s why I’m proud to sign these bills that will further safeguard our classrooms, both from those with violent intentions and from out-of-touch political agendas.”
The measure defines “sex” as the student’s “biological sex based exclusively on the student’s reproductive biology and sex at birth,” as determined by the birth certificate.
Three House Democrats and two Senate Democrats joined Republicans in passing the legislation. No Republican legislator voted against the bill.
The center-right group Independent Women’s Voice said that the Georgia bill-signing brings the total number of states approving single-sex sports measures to 27. The measure also becomes the 16th state to codify the terms “male” and “female” into law based on biology.
“With this law now in place, Georgia joins the growing movement of states taking decisive action to defend women’s rights,” the organization said in a statement.
BIG NEWS: Governor Kemp just signed the Riley Gaines Act, which safeguards girls’ sports & private spaces.
 pic.twitter.com/RxiQY4O5FN
— American Principles  (@approject) April 28, 2025
Georgia was one of the last Republican-controlled states to pass a law barring transgender athletes from competing based on gender identity in female sports.
Another straggler, Nebraska, took action last week to advance Legislative Bill 89, the Stand With Women Act, requiring student athletes to compete based on sex at birth.
However, the Nebraska School Activities Association voted to comply with President Trump’s executive order, “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” shortly after it was signed Feb. 5.
