Sponsor: Rep. Gary Click (R-Vickery)
What will this bill do??: If passed, the bill would ban gender-affirming care in Ohio: It would prohibit doctors from prescribing cross-sex hormones or puberty-blocking drugs or performing any gender-affirming surgery on minors. Additionally, the bill would prohibit conduct that constitutes (*8*) by prohibiting health care providers from helping minor patients obtain gender-affirming care in other states. The bill also requires mental health professionals to annually report information about minors they treat for gender-related conditions and prohibits Medicaid from covering gender reassignment services.
Status of the bill: :
– At the fourth hearing of HB 68 on June 14, the bill was amended to include all of the provisions of HB 6, the Save Women’s Sports Act, even though it was a completely unrelated bill. The amended bill was then referred out of committee.
– On June 21, the bill was passed by the House of Representatives by a vote of 64 to 28, with two Republicans voting against the bill: Rep. Brett Hillyer (R-Uhrichsville) and Rep. Jamie Callendar (R-Concord).
– The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Government Oversight on September 13. A sponsor hearing was held on November 15, and a supporter hearing was held on November 28, during which a group of out-of-state witnesses were heard.
– HB 68 passed the Senate on December 13.
– On December 29, Governor DeWine vetoed the bill.
– On January 10, the House voted to override Governor DeWine’s veto. The Senate voted to override the veto on January 24.
– HB 68 was supposed to go into effect at the end of Aprilbut the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas issued a momentary restraining order against its execution.
