Gov. Gianforte signs law banning certain forms of gender-affirming healthcare for children

FILE – Zooey Zephyr, right, attends a legislative training session at the state Capitol in Helena, Mont., on Nov. 16, 2022. Zephyr, who is one of the …

FILE – Zooey Zephyr, right, attends a legislative training session at the state Capitol in Helena, Mont., on Nov. 16, 2022. Zephyr, who is one of the first two transgender candidates elected to the Montana Legislature, was intentionally misgendered on April 18, 2023, in a demand by the Montana Freedom Caucus that the state House censure her for comments she made on the House floor about a bill to ban transgender medical care for children. (Thom Bridge/Independent Record via AP, File)

by: Mary Beth Dickson

Posted: Apr 28, 2023 / 10:53 PM MDT

Updated: Apr 28, 2023 / 10:56 PM MDT

Gov. Greg Gianforte signed an amended version of Senate Bill 99 into law Friday, which bans certain forms of gender-affirming healthcare for children under the age of 18.

The bill, which goes into effect Oct. 1, bans hormone treatments, such as puberty blockers or hormone boosters, and surgeries for people under the age of 18 seeking to medically transition to a gender identity different from the sex they were assigned at birth.
Healthcare providers who violate the could face penalties, including a yearlong suspension of their authority to practice and potential legal liability.

The Governor asked lawmakers to revise the definition of male and female within the bill and change language within the bill to include minors with conditions such as a disorder of sex development. State lawmakers made those changes.