Arkansas Republican Gov. vetoes health care bill

Arkansas Republican Gov. vetoes health care bill

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Governor Asa Hutchinson told reporters that he had killed HB 1570 because the bill “would be and is a major series of government” and because it would have created “new standards of legislative interference with doctors and parents, as they with the most complex dealing with problems. and sensitive issues involving young people. ‘

The governor calls the legislation a ‘product of the cultural war in America’, adding that his veto is coming even though he believes the bill is ‘well-intentioned’.

CNN released the sponsor’s bill for comment on the governor’s veto.

The bill, called the Arkansas Save Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act, passed the Senate of the state late last month with a 28-7 vote. The State House accepted it in early March with a 70-22 vote. If the governor approved it, Arkansas would have been the first state in the country to ban gender-confirming health care for trans youth, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.

The bill makes an “exception” for some intersex people with unspecified chromosomal makeup and hormone production, and those with problems due to previous sex-affirming treatments. It would also have banned so-called ‘cross-hormone’ therapy, a sex-affirming treatment that allows transgender people to change their physical appearance to be more consistent with their gender identity.

Hutchinson’s move comes as Republican politicians across the country introduce anti-trans legislation, and it appears to be at odds with the governor’s public stance on the matter last week, as he passed a separate bill last month banning transgender girls and – bans women from participating in school sports that match their gender identity and another bill that allows health workers to refuse to perform non-emergency procedures that are contrary to their religious or moral beliefs.
LGBTQ and medical advocates worked aggressively against HB 1570, which they said could have negative consequences for youth, who are at a much higher risk of suicide, according to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, if they have access to a puberty blocker, their chances of suicide and mental health problems in the immediate term and along the way decrease significantly, a study published by the CDC in January 2020 found.

According to the Trevor Project, an organization for suicide prevention and crisis intervention for LGBTQ youth, the governor’s decision is a major victory for Arkansas’ transgender and non-binary youth. ‘

“We hope this action will send a message to other lawmakers across the country to consider similar bans on gender-confirming medical care, which will only result in endangering young lives,” said Sam Brinton, the group’s vice President of Advocacy and Government Affairs, said.

This story has been updated with additional information.

CNN’s Lauren Holt contributed to this report.

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