Jamie Reed Protecting Our Kids from Child Abuse Act
Sponsored By: Senator Josh Hawley
Introduced
Summary
Creates a federal civil remedy for gender-transition procedures performed on minors. It would also bar federal funding to clinics, hospitals, and colleges tied to those procedures.
Show full summary
- Families and children: Individuals who were minors when a gender-transition procedure occurred could sue up to 30 years after they turn 18 for compensatory and punitive damages and for attorney’s fees.
- Clinics and medical practitioners: Pediatric gender clinics and the doctors who provided or performed care could be held liable for physical or mental harm linked in whole or in part to a procedure. They can assert an affirmative defense if they did not know and had no reason to know the patient was a minor.
- Institutions and hospitals: Colleges and hospitals that host, partner with, fund, or are affiliated with pediatric gender clinics would also face liability under the same standards.
- Federal funding: Federal funds would be prohibited for pediatric gender clinics, for affiliated institutions of higher education or hospitals, and for any gender-transition procedure performed on a minor.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 2 mixed.
Federal funding ban for pediatric care
If enacted, Federal money could not pay for pediatric gender clinics. Federal funds could not go to colleges or hospitals tied to those clinics. Federal money could not pay for any gender-transition procedure on a minor. Families with a minor seeking these services might lose program support and pay more themselves.
New federal lawsuits for pediatric care
If enacted, people who were minors when they had a gender-transition procedure could sue certain clinics, doctors, hospitals, or colleges. You would have until 30 years after you turn 18 to file suit. A court could award compensatory and punitive damages and lawyers' fees. There is a defense if the provider did not know the person was a minor.
Definition of covered transition treatments
If enacted, the bill would define 'gender-transition procedure' to include puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries done to change the body to match identity. It would carve out exceptions for certain intersex conditions, physician-determined nonstandard chromosomes or hormones, treatment of infections or injuries caused by an intervention, and emergency procedures needed to avoid death or major harm. The bill also defines pediatric gender clinic, medical practitioner, and minor (under 18).
Retroactive effect for past procedures
If enacted, this bill would take effect on the date it becomes law. It would apply to gender-transition procedures done before, on, or after that date. The law's rules, funding limits, and private right to sue would apply to those past and future procedures and providers.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Josh Hawley
MO • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
TX • R
Sponsored 1/29/2025
Sen. Moreno, Bernie [R-OH]
OH • R
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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