by Lauren Canterberry
Post Date:
February 14, 2023

South Dakota law protects minors from transgender treatment

Name: WORLD
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South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem signed House Bill 1080 on Monday to protect minors from transgender medical procedures. The “Help Not Harm” bill prohibits physicians from prescribing hormone treatments or performing transgender surgeries on children younger than 18. Healthcare providers who violate the new law risk both civil lawsuits and the loss of their licenses. The bill goes into effect on July 1.

How many states are considering this type of bill? More than 20 state legislatures have proposed similar bills, including Tennessee, West Virginia, and Nebraska. South Dakota joins Utah, Arkansas, Arizona, and Alabama as the first states to pass this type of legislation.

Dig deeper: Read Adele Fulton’s report in Liberties on doctors fighting requirements for “gender-affirming” care.

Lauren Canterberry

Lauren Canterberry is a reporter for WORLD. She graduated from the World Journalism Institute and the University of Georgia with a degree in journalism, both in 2017. She worked as a local reporter in Texas and now lives in Georgia with her husband.