A general view of the Idaho State Capitol building on May 23, 2021 in Boise, Idaho. (AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
The bill now heads to the Republican-controlled Senate. If it passes, Gov. Brad Little, a Republican, would have to sign off on it. Little has signed bills in recent years opposing similar issues affecting transgender people. Last year, he signed a bill criminalizing sex reassignment surgeries for minors. He also signed a bill prohibiting transgender students from using public restrooms that do not align with their biological sex.
The public funds would specifically target Medicaid, the country's primary federal health insurance program.
The bill also states that physicians and other medical professionals "in the course and scope of employment by the state or a county or local government may provide the surgical operations or medical interventions."
Idaho banned transgender sex changes for minors. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)
If the bill becomes law, the penalties for violations include fines ranging from $300 to $10,000 and the possibility of a prison sentence of up to 14 years.
At least 23 states, including Idaho, have passed laws banning transgender sex changes and hormone treatment for minors. This month, a leading scientific organization in the U.S. — the American Psychological Association — representing more than 150,000 licensed psychologists, announced a new policy urging clinics to provide "unobstructed access" to gender-transitioning treatments for children.
Jamie Joseph is a writer who covers politics. She leads Fox News Digital coverage of the Senate.
Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more Fox News politics content.
Subscribed
You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter!
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/idaho-moves-ban-use-public-funds-transgender-surgeries-hormone-therapy