STOP Act

Summary#

This bill would prohibit gender transition procedures for individuals under 18. It defines "gender transition procedure" broadly to include puberty blockers, supraphysiologic hormones, many listed surgeries and other medical or cosmetic interventions. The prohibition applies when the conduct touches interstate or foreign commerce, uses channels of interstate commerce, involves travel in interstate commerce, uses interstate-traveled items, occurs in U.S. territorial jurisdiction, or otherwise occurs in interstate or foreign commerce.

The Secretary of Health and Human Services may impose civil monetary penalties after notice and an opportunity for a hearing. The bill sets a minimum civil penalty of $100,000 for each violation. The bill creates a "Victims of Gender Transition Procedures Compensation Fund" to receive amounts collected and makes those amounts available to carry out a federal grant program to support detransition services.

The bill also creates a private right of action. An individual who received a prohibited procedure as a minor, or the parent, guardian, or caretaker of such an individual, may sue for damages including compensatory, non-economic, and in some cases punitive damages. The bill includes a statute of limitations of up to 25 years from the individual’s 18th birthday or 4 years from the cost of detransition treatment, whichever is later. The bill lists specific exceptions (for some disorders of sex development, certain medical emergencies, treatment of complications, normalizing treatment for precocious puberty, male circumcision, and other narrowly defined care).

The bill requires a federal grant program to fund nonprofit entities that provide medical advice, referrals, education, employment assistance, and voluntary mental health or substance use services to people seeking to reverse prior gender transition procedures. Grantees must meet privacy rules, not charge individuals for services provided under the grant, and may not perform or refer for gender transition procedures or (with limited exceptions) abortions.

What it means for you#

• Health care professionals: Performing, attempting, conspiring to perform, or aiding a listed gender transition procedure on a minor in covered circumstances may trigger federal civil penalties and private lawsuits. Employers can be held jointly liable for employee actions under the bill when those actions are within the scope of employment.
• Minors and families: Minors who receive listed procedures as minors, and their parents, guardians, or caretakers, can sue for damages. The bill states minors themselves may not be held liable for violations.
• Organizations: Nonprofit providers may apply for grants to provide detransition-related services if they meet eligibility and privacy requirements; organizations that perform or refer for gender transition procedures are ineligible.

Expenses#

• The bill sets a minimum civil penalty of $100,000 per violation. Penalty amounts above the minimum are set by the Secretary, who must consider the nature and gravity of the violation and the violator’s history.
• Amounts collected from penalties are deposited into a Victims of Gender Transition Procedures Compensation Fund and are available for expenditure beginning fiscal year 2026 without further appropriation to support the grant program in section 4.
• The bill does not provide specific estimates for total federal costs or describe annual funding amounts for grants. No publicly available information on overall budgetary estimates is provided in the text.

Proponents' View#

The bill states its purpose is to prohibit gender transition procedures for minors and to support, encourage, and assist individuals in efforts to reverse gender transition procedures. It authorizes penalties for providers who perform such procedures on minors and authorizes a grant program and a compensation fund to help people seeking detransition services.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.