This bill would change federal criminal law (section 116 of Title 18) to make it a crime to perform or attempt to perform "genital or bodily mutilation" or "chemical castration" on anyone under 18. It would also make it a crime to facilitate, consent to, or transport a minor for female genital mutilation (FGM). A person convicted could be fined and imprisoned for up to 10 years. The law applies when the conduct involves interstate or foreign commerce (for example, travel, use of mail or electronic communications, payments, or use of items that moved in commerce), occurs in U.S. special maritime or territorial jurisdiction, or otherwise affects interstate or foreign commerce.
The bill says religious belief is not a defense to a prosecution for FGM. It also says a person who is chemically castrated or on whom genital or bodily mutilation is performed may not be arrested or prosecuted for an offense under this section.
The bill lists exceptions. Procedures are allowed if they are necessary to the physical health of the minor and performed by a licensed medical practitioner. "Health" does not include a mental health disorder. The bill also exempts procedures for people with both ovarian and testicular tissue, people shown by testing to have atypical sex chromosomes or sex-hormone function, people with infection, disease, injury, or disorder from previous gender-transition procedures, or people whose physical condition would imminently impair a major bodily function unless the procedure is done (as certified by a physician).
The bill defines many specific surgeries and procedures as "genital or bodily mutilation," including a long list (for example: castration, orchiectomy, vaginoplasty, phalloplasty, mastectomy, facial feminization/masculinization, chest implants, certain gluteal implants). "Chemical castration" is defined to include administering puberty blockers (GnRH analogues) and giving supraphysiologic doses of testosterone to biological females or estrogen to biological males. The bill defines "biological sex" by reproductive potential, sex chromosomes, naturally occurring sex hormones, gonads, or genitalia present at birth.
No publicly available information on costs or the bill's budgetary effects is included in the provided text or metadata.
The bill's title, "Protect Children's Innocence Act of 2025," and the list of sponsors indicate supporters introduced the measure to prohibit the listed surgical and medical procedures on minors. No other public statements from proponents are included in the provided materials.
No publicly available information on opponents' views is included in the provided text or metadata.