The proposed bill, known as the Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act, seeks to prohibit healthcare providers from performing medical procedures or prescribing medications intended to alter a minor child's gender or delay puberty. Specifically, it prohibits the administration of puberty-blocking or cross-sex hormone medications to minors, except in certain circumstances. These exceptions include cases where a minor has a medically verifiable disorder of sex development or when a healthcare provider has previously prescribed such treatments and determines that immediate cessation would cause harm, allowing for a systematic reduction of the medications until January 1, 2026.

Additionally, the bill introduces new legal language by inserting a new chapter (Chapter 332-N) into the existing law, which defines terms such as "biological sex" and "minor," and outlines the prohibitions for healthcare providers. It also establishes that violations of this section would be classified as a class B felony. Furthermore, the bill includes a provision for the prospective repeal of the systematic reduction clause by January 1, 2026, indicating a timeline for the implementation of these restrictions. Overall, the bill aims to regulate medical treatments related to gender identity for minors while addressing potential harm to those already undergoing such treatments.

Statutes affected:
As Amended by the House: 332-N:2