ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Only days after he declined a U.S. Senate run and threw the state’s political scene into turmoil, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed several bills on Thursday that he said are designed to improve and invest in modernizing public safety.

SB 185 prohibits the use of state funds for sex reassignment surgery, hormone replacement therapies, or cosmetic procedures for inmates.

The bill prompted Democratic state representatives to hold a walkout before the GOP-controlled state House approved the bill by a vote of 100-2, with every Democratic representative abstaining from the vote after walking out of the chamber.

Also on Thursday, Kemp signed a bill authorizing relief for Georgians impacted by Hurricane Helene.

Here are the other bills signed by Kemp on Thursday:

• HB 105 increasing the indemnification benefit for public school employees from $75,000 to $150,000 in the case of death. Additionally, it includes language on notification to disabled peace officers about the Georgia State Indemnification Fund and the temporary disability compensation program.
• HB 423 facilitates the transition to Next Generation 911, which Kemp said is a step in supporting Georgia first responders and keeping communities safe.
• HB 114 updates the reference date for present federal regulations.

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• HB 116 changes the name of the Motor Carrier Compliance Division to Commercial Vehicle Enforcement.
• HB 161 grants the Georgia Bureau of Investigation subpoena power for certain cyber crimes and includes language from the Prosecuting Attorney’s Council to update the domestic terrorism statute by relocating the meaning of domestic terrorism to the same code section as the penalty.

Kemp had been rumored to be a possible Republican challenger to U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, the Georgia Democratic incumbent who made his reelection campaign official in March.

Last month, two prominent GOP US senators - Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota and Tim Scott of South Carolina - flew to Atlanta to meet Kemp for lunch. Scott is chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

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