Committee deadlocks on proposal to let insurers deny malpractice coverage tied to gender‑affirming care; bill postponed

A heated, hours‑long hearing in the House Health & Human Services Committee produced no final passage for HB25‑1068, a bill that would permit medical‑malpractice insurers to deny or alter coverage for providers who furnish gender‑affirming care to minors. After extensive testimony from physicians, parents, detransitioners and advocacy organizations on both sides, the committee postponed the measure indefinitely by an 8‑4 vote.

Sponsor Representative Bottoms framed the bill as a narrow insurance carve‑out to let insurers refuse malpractice coverage for providers or groups that elect to provide gender‑affirming procedures and said the measure “is not a mandate” banning care. “No insurance company has to do anything,” Bottoms told the committee, adding the change would allow insurers and providers who disagree with these interventions to avoid shared liability.

Opponents included multiple physicians who urged rejection of the bill. Dr. Michelle Shipman,…