The measure would criminalize certain medical treatments for minors and penalize providers and parents involved.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Protect Children’s Innocence Act, sponsored by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, which would ban gender transition-related medical care for minors and impose criminal penalties on health care providers and parents involved in such care.
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Protect Children’s Innocence Act, legislation introduced by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene that would prohibit gender transition-related medical care for minors. The bill would also establish criminal penalties for health care providers and parents who participate in or facilitate such treatments.
According to the bill text, the measure seeks to ban medical interventions associated with gender transition for individuals under 18, framing the policy as a child-protection effort. Supporters argue the legislation is necessary to prevent irreversible medical decisions involving minors.
Under the proposal, health care professionals who provide prohibited treatments could face criminal charges, and parents or guardians who consent to such care could also be subject to penalties. Specific enforcement details would depend on federal implementation if the bill becomes law.
Opponents of the bill argue it would restrict access to medical care and interfere with family decision-making and clinical judgment. Major medical organizations have previously stated that gender-affirming care, when provided under established guidelines, can be appropriate for some patients; those groups have criticized similar proposals in the past.
The bill’s passage in the House does not make it law. It must still be considered by the U.S. Senate and signed by the president to take effect. The outcome in the Senate remains uncertain.
The issue has been a focal point of broader national debate over health policy, parental rights, and the role of government in medical decision-making for minors. Legal challenges are expected if the bill advances further.
