HF2557: Conversion Therapy Not Child Abuse

Clarifies that actions taken to raise, guide, or instruct a child in a manner consistent with the child's sex—including use of pronouns and titles, seeking mental health services to align the child’s life with their sex, making health decisions based on sex, and declining consent for gender transition procedures—do not constitute child abuse or child endangerment. State agencies cannot deny foster or adoption licensure, nor can courts consider such practices as a negative factor in custody cases. The bill also amends procedures for child protection worker access and clarifies related immunity provisions.

Key Points & Impacts:

• Redefines 'child abuse' to specifically exclude actions taken to raise, guide, or instruct a child in a manner consistent with the child's sex, including refusing gender transition procedures.

• Specifies that 'child endangerment' does not include raising or guiding a child according to their sex as defined in the bill.

• Prevents the Department of Health and Human Services from denying foster care licensure based on an individual's intent to raise a child in accordance with the child's sex.

• Bars adoption rules from precluding individuals who intend to raise a child in a manner consistent with their sex from becoming adoptive parents.

• Prohibits courts from considering, as a negative factor for custody, a parent's intent to raise or instruct a child consistent with their sex.

• Clarifies that child protection workers must have access to children for investigations, and makes related changes to procedures and immunity for facilities and schools.

• Lists specific actions protected, including pronoun use, mental health service decisions, and refusal of gender transition procedures for a child.

• Adds procedural clarifications and updates terminology to ensure consistency with the new legal standards.