ATLANTA — On Tuesday, the Georgia Senate approved a bill that would ban doctors from performing certain medical procedures on transgender children like hormone replacement therapy and gender-affirming surgeries.

Under the bill, transgender children currently receiving these medical procedures would be able to continue them. However, no new children could begin those procedures when the law goes into effect on July 1.

The version approved by the Senate also includes an amendment by the House that would open up doctors who violate the law to lawsuits or possible criminal charges.

The bill now heads to Gov. Brian Kemp’s desk for his signature.

One Republican lawmaker insists they are trying to protect transgender children from medical procedures that cannot be changed.

“This is exactly about letting a child not have procedures irreversible, permanent, lifelong procedures done on them, chosen by adults rather than themselves,” Rep. Mark Newton said.

Georgia Equality’s Jeff Graham accused Republicans of putting politics over children.

“That is what is so hard to think about, that people are making political decisions and willing to hurt kids for political advancement here in the state of Georgia,” Graham said.

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