Florida Senate passes DeSantis-backed bill banning transgender treatments for minors

The Florida Senate voted Tuesday to approve a ban on transgender treatments for children. 

The bill, SB 254, passed 27-12 in the chamber where Republicans hold a supermajority. Introduced by Republican state Sen. Clay Yarborough, the legislation would prohibit anyone under age 18 from undergoing sex-reassignment surgeries or taking prescription-based cross-sex hormones to treat gender dysphoria. The bill would also make permanent a state rule banning Medicaid from reimbursing people of all ages who undergo the procedures. 

Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo are backing the bill. Last year, the governor pushed for rules from the Florida Board of Medicine and the Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine that prohibit transgender treatments for minors. SB 254 would codify those rules.