Bill > HB612

This bill prohibits physicians and surgeons from performing specific surgical procedures on infants under one year of age who are born with variations in their physical sex characteristics, unless the procedure is medically necessary to address an immediate risk of physical harm. The prohibited procedures include clitoroplasty, gonadectomy, urethral modifications, and vaginoplasty. The bill defines "variations in physical sex characteristics" as physical traits that differ from stereotypical sex development, such as those resulting from androgen insensitivity syndrome. Permitted surgical interventions include removing tissue with high malignancy risk, addressing critical urinary function issues, treating surgical complications, or preserving life in a medical emergency. The legislature's rationale is to protect the bodily autonomy of individuals born with these variations, recognizing that early, non-emergency surgeries can cause irreversible physical and psychological harm and may not reflect the individual's future preferences. The bill aims to safeguard children's well-being by ensuring that invasive procedures are only performed when medically urgent, and it will take effect on July 1, 2025.

Health and Social Services

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=612&year=2026