New Georgia laws, including tough gang penalties and transgender care restrictions, begin July 1

Controversial new Georgia laws taking effect on Saturday will impose stiffer criminal penalties for convictions connected to street gangs, create new restrictions on doctors providing medical care for transgender children and also establish a new commission that will scrutinize prosecutors’ decisions.

This year, the GOP-dominated state Legislature passed several measures that critics say could have unintended consequences, such as Gov. Brian Kemp’s priority crime-fighting street gang bill and banning minors from receiving gender-affirming care. Each July 1 marks the official start of a new year for the state government and a time when many bills passed earlier in the year become law.