Committee advances bill on 'protected counseling' after hours of emotional testimony

Representative Salient Hale (sponsor) told the Committee on State Government that House Bill 495 is intended to protect mental health professionals, institutions and ordained ministers who provide what the bill describes as "protected counseling services." The bill sponsor said the three‑page measure protects speech- and talk-based therapies offered with the stated goal of relieving discomfort or distress related to an individual’s sexual orientation or romantic attraction, provided the services "involve no obscene materials or aversive treatments." He framed the measure as a parental‑choice protection: "parents and guardians should have the right, if they so choose, to seek professional guidance," he said.

Multiple licensed clinicians, social work leaders and survivors testified in opposition. Dr. Eric Russ, executive director of the Kentucky Psychological Association, said the bill "directly threatens the trust between a mental health provider and our clients," and cited the American Psychological Association and other major medical groups in saying conversion therapy is discredited and can cause harm, including increased suicide risk. Brandon Long, an ordained minister who described himself as a survivor, testified, "The core of conversion therapy is the belief that something is wrong with me," describing repeated counseling that worsened his mental health. Dr. Bridal Creech recounted years of harm from reparative therapy and credited affirming care with helping rebuild wellbeing.

Witnesses from the National Association of Social Workers Kentucky chapter and the Fairness Campaign urged the committee to reject the bill; they told lawmakers professional licensing standards and codes of ethics already protect clients and that major medical organizations condemn conversion therapy.

Committee members asked whether the bill protects all types of counseling equally and whether it would in practice authorize discredited therapies. The sponsor said the bill does not authorize any specific practice by name and that it is intended to protect providers who offer counseling services to relieve distress; he described it as a parental choice for minors in parental care. Several members said licensed providers already have ethical codes and the ability to decline services outside their scope and to refer patients.

Members expressed sharply differing views. Representative Lehman asked whether therapies that cause harm would remain protected; he and others expressed concern that the bill’s language could allow pseudoscientific or discredited practices. Representative Hancock and several others said they opposed the bill on moral and safety grounds. Members recounted personal experiences and concerns about youth suicide and described the possible harms of allowing conversion therapy under a statutory shield.

The committee voted 15-4 to report House Bill 495 favorably. Committee discussion and the record show extensive testimony in opposition from licensed mental health professionals and survivors; the bill sponsor and some committee members framed the measure as preserving parental choice and protecting providers. The bill text was described in committee as a short, three-page statute; specific statutory citations or implementing regulatory language were not provided during testimony.

The vote advances House Bill 495 to the House floor for further consideration.