Proposed ban on gender-affirming care for minors survives legislative deadline

With less than 24 hours before a major legislative deadline, the Oklahoma House passed a ban on gender-affirming care for minors, bringing the state one step closer to joining other conservative states who have adopted similar legislation this year.

Because the House amended the legislation, Senate Bill 613 now goes back to the Senate for final approval. In February, the bill passed the Senate by an overwhelming majority. Gov. Kevin Stitt asked for this kind of legislation in his State of the State speech at the beginning of session.

"With this bill, we are simply giving parents and children, and their mental health providers and their physical health providers an opportunity to take the time and discover and treat any underlying conditions that may be present, so that they can help make decisions for their children that do not decline the quality of their life," said the author, Rep. Toni Hasenbeck, R-Elgin.

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What has changed from earlier versions of the bill?

Earlier versions of the legislation would have caused the immediate revocation of a health care provider's license for providing gender-affirming care to minors, but the bill passed by the House in a late-night session Wednesday removed that line. However, providing such care could still threaten a provider's license, and the bill creates a new felony crime for doctors who perform surgery or conduct hormone treatment as part of gender transition services.

Hasenbeck's bill also extends the grace period for minors currently receiving puberty-blocking drugs or hormones from 90 days to six months.

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A similar bill considered by the House this year would have banned insurance coverage of gender-affirming care for both minors and adults. That language did not make it into the legislation adopted by the House on Wednesday.

Democrats were the only House members to debate and vote against the legislation. Norman state Rep. Jacob Rosecrants said the measure is government overreach by targeting a marginalized community.

"We don't need to waste our time on bills like this which ignore medical professionals. Gender-affirming care is health care. It isn't mutilation. It isn't harming children or whatever else you're hearing out there," Rosecrants said. "Gender affirming care saves friggin' lives."

What's next for the bill?

The Senate now has until the end of May to adopt the legislation. They could also reject the House amendments and send it to a conference committee to negotiate a final product.