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Montana hearing on SB 164 draws hours of testimony on criminalizing gender‑affirming care for minors
Summary
A House Judiciary hearing on Senate Bill 164, which would amend the state endangerment statute to criminalize certain medical interventions for minors, drew hours of pro and con testimony from parents, medical providers, civil‑rights groups and self‑described detransitioners. No formal vote was recorded at the hearing.
Senator John Fuller, sponsor of Senate Bill 164, opened the House Judiciary hearing saying the bill would amend the statutory offense of endangering the welfare of children in 45‑5‑622, Montana Code Annotated, to prohibit providing certain medical treatments to minors and said the change was within the Legislature’s authority under Article V, Section 1 of the Montana Constitution.
Proponents testified the bill would protect children from irreversible medical interventions. Derek A. Streicher, chief legal counsel for the Montana Family Foundation, said the measure “recognizes the need for caution” and cited a February study as part of his argument that some interventions “are likely to lead to heightened psychological distress.” Jamie Reed, who identified herself as a former pediatric gender‑clinic employee and whistleblower, told the committee she saw cases she described as harms and urged lawmakers to create criminal penalties to stop what she called ongoing practices.
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