The Florida House could give final approval this week to a plan that would bar doctors and other health care providers from offering gender-affirming treatments such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy to minors.
The House is scheduled to take up the issue (HB 1421) during a floor session Tuesday.
The Republican-controlled Senate on April 4 passed its version (SB 254) of the bill, 27-12, with the vote mostly along party lines.
The plan would largely put into law rules approved by state medical boards to prevent doctors from providing the treatments to minors. It could lead to felony charges for doctors who do so.
Bill sponsor Clay Yarborough, R-Jacksonville, said the treatments, which also could involve surgery, are “experimental” when provided to children.
Democratic lawmakers said major medical associations support gender-affirming care for minors and that the bill is part of broader efforts in legislatures across the country to target LGBTQ youths. Rep. Tina Polsky, D-Boca Raton, called the bill “persecution.”
