STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – State Representative Lisa Fink praised today’s House passage of House Bill 2085, legislation she sponsored that prohibits gender transition procedures for minors, bars referrals for those procedures, and stops taxpayer dollars from supporting providers who perform them on children.

HB 2085 builds on Arizona’s existing ban on irreversible gender reassignment surgery for minors by prohibiting health professionals from providing gender transition procedures to anyone under 18 and by prohibiting referrals for those procedures. The bill also bars public monies from being used directly or indirectly for individuals or organizations that provide gender transition procedures to minors. In addition, it prohibits the procedures in government-owned facilities and by government-employed providers, and bars AHCCCS from reimbursing or covering the procedures for minors.

“Kids should not have permanent, life-altering medical procedures pushed on them by adults,” said Representative Lisa Fink. “HB 2085 protects minors from procedures that can sterilize them, harm healthy development, and lock them into lifelong medical dependence. If you are under 18, you are simply not old enough to consent to irreversible interventions dressed up as ‘health care.’”

The measure includes medical exceptions for certain disorders of sex development, treatment of conditions caused by or exacerbated by the procedures, and emergency circumstances involving imminent danger of death or impairment of a major bodily function. HB 2085 also treats violations as unprofessional conduct subject to licensing discipline, allows civil enforcement actions, and authorizes the Attorney General to enforce compliance. The bill takes effect after March 31, 2027, to allow time for minors currently using puberty-blocking drugs or cross-sex hormones to taper and discontinue under medical supervision.

“This bill also stops taxpayers from being forced to bankroll these procedures through government facilities, government employees, or AHCCCS coverage,” Representative Fink said. “Public institutions should not subsidize or participate in these procedures on minors. If a provider violates the law, there must be consequences. That is accountability.”

Every House Democrat voted NO on holding providers accountable for gender transition procedures performed on minors and on ending taxpayer support. House Republicans voted YES for accountability and for protecting children.

Lisa Fink is a Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives serving Legislative District 27, which includes areas of Glendale, Peoria, and Phoenix. Follow her on X at @LisaFink4AZ.