The bill under consideration is designed to regulate the treatment of children experiencing distress with their biological sex, emphasizing the state's compelling interest in protecting the health and safety of its young citizens. It presents findings that question the necessity of medical interventions for most children who eventually accept their biological sex and highlights the lack of conclusive long-term studies on the safety of puberty-blocking drugs and cross-sex hormones in children. The bill also raises concerns about the risks of irreversible infertility and other health issues associated with hormone treatments and gender reassignment surgeries. It introduces the "Rhode Island's Children Deserve Help Not Harm Act," which aims to protect children from potentially harmful medical procedures by promoting a cautious approach and raising awareness of the associated risks.

The bill prohibits healthcare professionals from providing gender transition procedures to minors and prevents healthcare institutions from facilitating such procedures. It bans insurance coverage for these procedures for minors, including under federal health plans, and prohibits the use of public funds to support entities that provide gender transition procedures to minors. The bill also defines the provision of these procedures to minors as unprofessional conduct, subject to discipline, and establishes a private cause of action for individuals injured by violations of the chapter. The statute of limitations for such actions extends up to thirty years after reaching the age of majority. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2025, to allow for a transition period for minors currently undergoing treatment.