Transgender inmates in Kentucky will no longer have access to gender-affirming health care after Gov. Andy Beshear let a bill become law without his signature Wednesday.

Senate Bill 2 — one of the Republican-dominated Senate’s top priorities during the 2025 legislative session — will now go into effect in late June. 

“The Governor does not believe that the state should pay for gender reassignment surgeries for convicted felons, as this would mean those in prison would receive better access to medical care than a law-abiding citizen,” according to a press release from Beshear’s office. “However, courts have ruled that federal law may require some nonsurgical care.” 

Kentucky’s 67 transgender inmates — less than 1% of the inmate population — became a top legislative target in late 2024, when political chatter began around whether or not such health care is provided, and if it is, whether it should be. 

Top Department of Corrections officials told lawmakers at the time that gender reassignment surgeries are not currently provided for Kentucky inmates, but some inmates receive treatment like hormone therapies. 

SB 2 was one of two anti-LGBTQ+ measures that made it to Beshear’s desk in time for the legislature to override any potential vetoes. 

Over the weekend to a standing ovation at the Fairness Dinner, Beshear vetoed House Bill 495, which seeks to protect conversion therapy and block transgender people on Medicaid from accessing gender-affirming care. He is, however, expected to be overridden by Kentucky’s GOP-heavy legislature during the final days of the legislative session Thursday and Friday. 

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