Michigan House Bill HB4467

Michigan 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 5/7/25
• Refer: 5/7/25

Caption

Health: other; gender reassignment procedures or treatment for minors; prohibit. Creates new act.

Impact

The implications of HB4467 are considerable as it aims to reshape state regulations surrounding the rights of minors in relation to gender transition. Under this proposed law, healthcare professionals who violate these stipulations could face legal repercussions, including civil action taken against them for damages. Furthermore, the state attorney general is granted the authority to enforce this act, which adds another layer of state oversight over personal health decisions made in regard to gender identity treatments. This move towards centralizing regulatory authority over minors' healthcare decisions may lead to significant changes in existing protocols and policies followed in medical settings.

Summary

House Bill 4467, known as the 'Protecting Minors from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation Act,' seeks to prohibit healthcare professionals from performing certain medical procedures and treatments on minors that aim to alter their sex or gender presentation. This includes banning the prescription of puberty blockers, hormones, and surgeries that are intended to affirm a child's gender identity if it is inconsistent with their biological sex. The bill exemplifies a significant legislative move to impact how gender identity is approached in healthcare settings, particularly concerning minors who cannot legally consent to such procedures in most cases.

Contention

The bill has sparked considerable debate regarding parental rights, medical autonomy, and the ethics of medical intervention in youth gender identity issues. Supporters of the bill argue that it protects minors from potentially irreversible medical procedures and complications linked with gender dysphoria treatments undertaken before reaching the age of maturity. Conversely, opponents contend that the bill undermines the rights of families and healthcare providers to make informed decisions in consultation with minors and their parents. Critics also argue that the prohibition of such treatments denies crucial support for transgender minors coping with their identities, leading to potential adverse mental health outcomes.