The Hormone Therapy and Puberty Blocker Child Protection Act prohibits healthcare providers and public bodies from performing medical procedures related to hormone therapy and puberty blockers for minors, specifically aimed at enabling minors to identify with a gender inconsistent with their biological sex. Exceptions are made for treating congenital defects or precocious puberty, provided that such procedures began before the act's effective date and are completed by December 31, 2025. The act requires parental notification for any gender-affirming actions and allows parents to pursue civil actions against healthcare providers for violations. It also introduces new definitions related to gender identity and medical procedures, clarifies that gender dysphoria does not qualify as a disease, and establishes enforcement mechanisms through the attorney general or district attorneys.

Additionally, the bill amends the Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Health Care Freedom Act to impose stricter regulations on reproductive and gender-affirming health care for minors, including mandatory parental notification and consent requirements. It expands the definition of individuals who can claim to be aggrieved by violations of the act to include adults, emancipated minors, and minors with parental consent, allowing them to seek relief in district court. The bill also stipulates that prevailing plaintiffs are entitled to reasonable attorney fees and costs, and it sets the effective date for the act's provisions as July 1, 2025. Overall, the legislation aims to enhance protections for individuals involved in reproductive and gender-affirming health care while holding healthcare providers accountable for compliance.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 24-34-2, 24-34-3, 24-34-4, 24-34-5, 24-35-2, 24-35-3, 24-35-4, 24-35-5, 24-35-6, 24-35-8