Utah legislators stand on the steps of the Capitol as they join hundreds gathered in support of transgender youth in a rally at the Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023. (Scott G. Winterton/Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Senate has passed a bill that bans transgender-related surgeries on minors and pauses the treatment of hormone blockers.
On Thursday, the Utah House made changes to the transgender-related surgery bill for minors.
One change alters the bill to allow minors to withdraw their consent for treatment up to age 25 and sue doctors.
Another change nixes the sunset date on hormone blockers. The original version of the bill said that the legislature would take up the issue in four years. That part has been removed and, as such, supporters of trans rights say it’s effectively a ban.
Finally, if both chambers have a two-thirds majority in their votes, the law as written now would take effect immediately after the governor signs it, instead of May as originally written.
The Senate has placed this bill on its concurrence calendar, which means senators will vote on whether or not they agree with the changes made in the House.
The Utah House Democratic Caucus released a statement on the passage of S.B. 16 on Thursday afternoon.
We are disappointed to see the passage of S.B.16. As House Democrats, we stand with transgender youth, their families, and their doctors as they navigate the passage of this bill and work to get the medical care that they need. The Legislature should not be making a person’s medical decisions for them. This bill is a misguided step by our legislature and a violation of parents’ rights.”
The caucus also says this legislation, if signed into law, will “inevitably lead to litigation and a likely injunction.”
Kira Hoffelmeyer contributed to this report.