hold on there's just too much going on in Congress lmao...
Creates a right to sue doctors for specific youth gender-affirming care.
Sponsors: Mr. Onder, Mr. Kennedy of Utah.
Introduced in the House, awaiting committee review.
This bill creates a new federal law allowing individuals or their parents to sue healthcare professionals, hospitals, or clinics for damages if they performed certain medical interventions on a child. The bill was introduced by Representative Onder and Representative Kennedy of Utah. As an introduced bill, it has been assigned to a committee for review, but has not yet been voted on by the full House of Representatives.
Introduced Feb 23, 2026
This bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on February 23, 2026, and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. For it to become law, it must pass out of this committee, be voted on and passed by the full House, then pass the Senate (potentially after committee review there), and finally be signed by the President.
If this bill passes, individuals who received specific puberty blockers, sex hormones, or gender-affirming surgeries as children, or their parents, could file civil lawsuits in federal court against the medical professionals or facilities involved. The bill creates a very long statute of limitations, allowing lawsuits up to 25 years after the individual's 18th birthday or 4 years after seeking 'detransition' treatment. For interventions performed after the bill's enactment, healthcare providers would face 'strict liability,' meaning they are responsible for damages if the intervention is proven to have occurred, with a high burden to prove any exceptions.
Supporters Say
Supporters would argue this bill protects children from potentially harmful medical procedures by providing legal recourse for individuals affected.
Critics Say
Critics might argue the bill interferes with medical decision-making and parental rights, potentially limiting access to medically necessary care.
Those in favor of this bill would likely emphasize that it holds healthcare professionals accountable for interventions they define as damaging to children's natural development or biological sex. They may highlight the long-term impacts of such treatments. Opponents might argue that these medical interventions are sometimes considered medically necessary by professionals and families, and that this bill could restrict access to care for transgender youth, potentially leading to mental health harms or interfering with established medical guidelines.