summary
Introduced
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Regular Session
Bill Summary
Youth Health Protection Act established; civil penalty. Creates the Youth Health Protection Act, which makes it unlawful for any individual to provide gender transition procedures, defined in the bill, for minors and prohibits the use of public funds for gender transition procedures. The bill allows parents, guardians, or custodians to withhold consent for any treatment, activity, or mental health care services that are designed or intended to form their child's conceptions of sex and gender or to treat gender dysphoria or gender nonconformity. The bill prohibits government agents, other than law-enforcement personnel, from encouraging or coercing a minor to withhold information from the minor's parent. The bill establishes a duty for a government agent with knowledge that a minor has exhibited symptoms of gender dysphoria or gender nonconformity or otherwise demonstrates a desire to be treated in a manner incongruent with the minor's sex to immediately notify each of the minor's parents, guardians, or custodians in writing, with descriptions of relevant circumstances. The bill prohibits discrimination against persons (i) providing information regarding violations of the Act to their employer or specified public entities or (ii) who make disclosures under the Act of information that evinces any violation of law, rule, or regulation; any violation of any standard of care or other ethical guidelines for the provision of health care service; or gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety. The bill establishes a civil action for any violation of the Act by a clinic, health care system, medical professional, or other responsible person with a two-year statute of limitations. The bill prohibits political subdivisions of the Commonwealth from enacting, adopting, maintaining, or enforcing any measure that interferes with the professional conduct and judgment of a mental health care professional or counselor undertaken within the course of treatment and communication with clients, patients, other persons, or the public. The bill provides for enforcement by the Attorney General or a mental health care professional or counselor through an action for injunctive relief and allows a mental health care professional to recover reasonable attorney fees and reasonable costs incurred in obtaining an injunction. The bill waives sovereign immunity to suit and immunity from liability under this statute.
AI Summary
This bill establishes the Youth Health Protection Act, making it illegal for any individual to provide gender transition procedures, defined as medical or surgical services aimed at altering physical characteristics to align with a sex different from one's biological sex, to minors (individuals under 21 years old), with specific exceptions for certain disorders of sex development. It also prohibits the use of state funds for such procedures on minors. The bill grants parents, guardians, or custodians the right to refuse consent for any treatment or mental health services intended to shape their child's understanding of sex and gender or to treat gender dysphoria (distress caused by a mismatch between one's gender identity and sex assigned at birth) or gender nonconformity. Furthermore, government agents, excluding law enforcement, are forbidden from encouraging minors to withhold information from their parents and are mandated to immediately notify parents in writing if a minor shows symptoms of gender dysphoria or gender nonconformity. The Act includes whistleblower protections for those reporting violations and establishes a two-year statute of limitations for civil lawsuits against clinics, healthcare systems, or medical professionals for violations, allowing for damages and attorney fees. It also prevents political subdivisions from interfering with the professional judgment of mental health care professionals and counselors and waives sovereign immunity for violations of these provisions.
Committee Categories
Education, Health and Social Services
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Passed by indefinitely in Education and Health (9-Y 5-N) (on 02/05/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB411 |
| BillText | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB411/text/SB411 |
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