Indiana Senate Bill 480 (SB 480) introduced into the Indiana General Assembly in 2023. The bill prohibits physicians from providing gender affirming care to minors. The bill passed the state Senate on February 28, 2023, and the House on March 27, 2023. Governor Eric Holcomb signed the bill on April 5, 2023.
Bill Contents.
SB 480 prohibits a physician or other practitioner from providing gender affirming care to individuals under 18 years of age, and from "aiding or abetting" another practitioner in the provision of gender affirming care to individuals under 18 years of age. The bill would take effect July 1, 2023. Minors already receiving gender affirming care would have until December 31, 2023, to cease treatment.
Legislative History.
The bill was authored by Senators Tyler Johnson, Ed Charbonneau, and Gary Byrne and included seventeen co-authors. In the House, the bill was sponsored by Representatives Joanna King, Michelle Davis, Jake Teshka, and Timothy Wesco. The bill passed out of the Senate 36-12 and passed out of the House 65–30.
Controversy.
The bill was opposed by organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana, Indiana Youth Group, and the Human Rights Campaign. The ACLU filed a lawsuit against the State of Indiana in April 2023 challenging the law, alleging that the law violates the U.S. Constitution as well as the federal requirements of the Medicaid Act and the Affordable Care Act. In June 2023, a federal court issued a preliminary injunction blocking much of the law from going into effect.
References.
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