SENATE PASSES WILSONS’ BILL TO PROTECT TAXPAYER
FUNDS FROM ELECTIVE PROCEDURES FOR INMATES
FRANKFORT, KY (Feb. 18, 2025)—The Kentucky Senate has passed Senate Bill 2 (SB 2), a priority piece of legislation sponsored by Senate Majority Whip Mike Wilson, R-Bowling Green. The bill prohibits the Department of Corrections from using taxpayer dollars to pay for transgender surgeries or hormone replacement therapy for inmates, whether for biological men trying to transition to be a transgender woman or biological women transitioning to be a transgender man.
SB 2 ensures that taxpayer funds are not used for gender transition treatments. Instead, the legislation makes a clear distinction between essential medical treatments and elective procedures. Inmates will continue to receive necessary medical care for legitimate conditions, such as thyroid or other hormonal disorders, but the state will not fund elective gender transition treatments.
“The Beshear administration has been using Kentucky taxpayer dollars toward these elective procedures for inmates without any transparency or public input,” said Wilson. “This bill not only ensures that Kentuckians are not funding these non-essential treatments but also codifies into law the administration’s decision to remove these prepared procedures from their regulation, reinforcing our commitment to proper oversight and responsible governance while maintaining the obligation to provide appropriate medical care to all inmates.”
The passage of SB 2 reflects a broader effort to increase government accountability and prevent unauthorized executive actions. The bill now moves to the House for further consideration.
For more updates on SB 2 and other legislative measures, visit Legislature.ky.gov.
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Sen. Mike Wilson, R-Bowling Green, represents the 32nd Senate District, including Logan, Simpson, and Todd Counties and southern Warren County. Wilson serves as the Senate majority whip. As a Senate majority leadership member, he serves on the Legislative Research Commission, the Committee on Committees, and the Rules Committee. He is also a member of the Senate Committees on Agriculture; Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor; Education; Transportation; and Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection. Additionally, Wilson serves on the Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee and the Public Pension Oversight Board.
Please visit https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators%20Full%20Res%20Images/senate132.jpg for a high-resolution .jpeg of Wilson.
