The proposed bill amends the West Virginia Medical Practice Act to prohibit physicians, physician assistants, and advanced practice registered nurses from providing gender reassignment surgery or gender-altering medication to individuals under 18 years of age. It introduces definitions for key terms such as "gender," "gender-altering medication," and "gender reassignment surgery," and establishes that violations will be deemed unprofessional conduct, leading to disciplinary actions by licensing boards. The bill allows exceptions for specific medical conditions, such as medically verifiable disorders of sex development, and provides a legal framework for minors to assert claims for violations, including seeking compensatory damages.

Significant changes include the removal of the term "biological sex," replaced with a definition of "sex" that focuses solely on biological indicators, excluding psychological or subjective experiences. The bill also sets a two-year statute of limitations for claims, allowing minors to initiate actions through a guardian before turning 18 and independently until age 20. Any adverse ruling by a licensing board regarding these services will be classified as unprofessional conduct. The amendments are set to take effect on January 1, 2024, with further updates from the 2025 legislative session effective August 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 30-3-20, 30-14-17, 30-3E-20, 30-7-15f