Georgia Senate Republicans have hijacked State Rep. Omari Crawford’s high school sports mental health bill

Tuesday, Georgia Senate Republicans successfully stole State Representative Omari Crawford’s bill which originally addressed mental health challenges currently facing high school athletes and pumped it full of culture war issues that serve as red meat for Conservatives. The current version of House Bill 1104 passed 31-21 along party lines. State Senator Clint Dixon, a Republican from Buford, says the Georgia Senate Education Committee and Youth added changes to the bill that protects children and empowers parents from a “dangerous” atmosphere. The Georgia Senate Education Committee and Youth added other bills that failed to pass previously. These bills include bathroom restrictions, transgender sports bans, and restrictions on when children can learn about sex education.& These proposals are similar to those by Republicans in other states. Georgia State Senator Clint Dixon, a Republican from Buford, speaks inside the Georgia Senate chamber on Tuesday, Match 26, 2024. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice) “This bill provides that public schools and private schools participating in sports leagues with public schools, the matter dealing with gender identity,” said Dixon. “And what it is no matter what the male would claim his gender identity is currently it would be based off of his birth certificate, and...