Committee adopts amendment and advances bill restricting gender-transition care for minors
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Summary
The Judiciary committee adopted a 5-page amendment to SB 1095 and recommended the bill as amended. Dozens of testifiers—medical groups, advocates, parents and youth—spoke overwhelmingly in opposition; proponents argued for parental rights and protections.
SB 1095, which would prohibit physicians and other licensed health professionals from providing gender-transition procedures to people under 18 and restrict referrals, was amended in committee and given a due-pass-as-amended recommendation on Jan. 27.
Staff described a 5-page amendment that removed a ban on public monies, public health facilities and government-employed physicians from the prohibition and made conforming changes. Dozens of opponents took the microphone, including Paul Bixler (former public-school professional and transgender woman), Ruth Carter, ACLU counsel Marilyn Rodriguez and medical groups, who warned the bill would deny medically indicated care and constitute discrimination. The ACLU said the bill "opens the door to vigilante enforcement" by permitting private claims in court, and other testifiers cited medical guidelines and the harm of denying referrals to qualified practitioners.
Proponents and some senators defended the bill as protecting minors and parents' decision-making. After the committee adopted the amendment, the committee voted 4–3 to recommend SB 1095 as amended.
Next steps: The bill proceeds to the Senate floor. Testimony in committee highlighted both high emotional stakes and legal concerns about discrimination and private enforcement; floor amendments or judicial review are possible.