Chloe Cole Act of 2026

New lawsuits for childhood gender treatments

This bill would create a federal private right to sue if a child was given certain medical treatments to change or delay sex-specific development. Covered treatments would include puberty blockers, sex hormones (for example estrogen or testosterone), and surgeries that alter or remove sex organs. The cause of action would apply whether the treatment happened before, on, or after enactment. Exemptions would include verified disorders of sex development, care for complications, and treatment for major organ injuries or life‑threatening illnesses. The bill would define "detransition treatment" and what it means to "participate," including prescribing, administering, or performing treatments. Clinicians would still be able to give information, discuss risks, and express medical opinions so long as that speech is not participation. People could seek economic damages to undo care, non-economic damages for pain and suffering, and punitive damages with strong proof. You would have 25 years after your 18th birthday to file. Or you would have 4 years after you pay for detransition care, whichever is later. For treatments after enactment, the bill would allow strict liability when participation is proven by clear and convincing evidence, and the defendant would have to prove statutory medical exceptions by clear and convincing evidence. The bill would bar waiver of liability and direct courts to resolve ambiguities against participating parties.