This legislation, titled the Jamie Reed Protecting Our Kids from Child Abuse Act, establishes a new federal tort to hold entities accountable for harm caused by gender-transition procedures performed on minors. It defines "gender-transition procedure" to include puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries aimed at aligning an individual's body with a subjective identity at odds with their biological sex. However, it explicitly excludes interventions for intersex conditions, certain genetic or biochemical anomalies, treatment of complications from prior procedures, or procedures necessary to prevent imminent death or severe bodily impairment. Under this bill, liability extends to pediatric gender clinics , medical practitioners involved in the procedures, and institutions like hospitals or institutions of higher education that host, operate, or are otherwise affiliated with such clinics. An individual who suffered bodily injury or mental health harm as a minor due to these procedures can bring a civil action for compensatory damages, punitive damages, and attorney's fees. This private right of action can be exercised up to 30 years after the individual turns 18, with an affirmative defense available if the defendants did not know the individual was a minor. Furthermore, the bill prohibits the use of Federal funds for pediatric gender clinics, any affiliated institutions, or for any gender-transition procedure performed on a minor. These provisions take effect immediately upon enactment and apply retroactively to any gender-transition procedure performed before, on, or after the effective date.
Child healthCivil actions and liabilityDrug therapyHealth facilities and institutionsHealth personnelHealth programs administration and fundingHigher educationPrescription drugsSex, gender, sexual orientation discriminationSurgery and anesthesia
Jamie Reed Protecting Our Kids from Child Abuse Act
USA119th CongressS-312| Senate
| Updated: 1/29/2025
This legislation, titled the Jamie Reed Protecting Our Kids from Child Abuse Act, establishes a new federal tort to hold entities accountable for harm caused by gender-transition procedures performed on minors. It defines "gender-transition procedure" to include puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries aimed at aligning an individual's body with a subjective identity at odds with their biological sex. However, it explicitly excludes interventions for intersex conditions, certain genetic or biochemical anomalies, treatment of complications from prior procedures, or procedures necessary to prevent imminent death or severe bodily impairment. Under this bill, liability extends to pediatric gender clinics , medical practitioners involved in the procedures, and institutions like hospitals or institutions of higher education that host, operate, or are otherwise affiliated with such clinics. An individual who suffered bodily injury or mental health harm as a minor due to these procedures can bring a civil action for compensatory damages, punitive damages, and attorney's fees. This private right of action can be exercised up to 30 years after the individual turns 18, with an affirmative defense available if the defendants did not know the individual was a minor. Furthermore, the bill prohibits the use of Federal funds for pediatric gender clinics, any affiliated institutions, or for any gender-transition procedure performed on a minor. These provisions take effect immediately upon enactment and apply retroactively to any gender-transition procedure performed before, on, or after the effective date.
Child healthCivil actions and liabilityDrug therapyHealth facilities and institutionsHealth personnelHealth programs administration and fundingHigher educationPrescription drugsSex, gender, sexual orientation discriminationSurgery and anesthesia