Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced today he has vetoed a bill that would prevent transgender minors from accessing life-saving medical care.
The “Save Adolescents From Experimentation (SAFE) Act,” HB 1570, would have banned doctors from prescribing trans youth under the age of 18 puberty blockers, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), or gender-affirming surgeries.
“The most recent action of the general assembly is off-course,” Hutchinson said.
Advocates warned the law could be devastating for trans youth, as studies have shown the younger trans children have access to care, the less likely they are to develop depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideations later in life.
Without access to this necessary care, organizations like the Trevor Project told Insider they predict it could cause a mental health emergency in states that pass trans medical bans.
“The consequences of this piece of legislation couldn’t be more dire,” Kate Oakley, State Legislative Director and Senior Counsel for the Human Rights Campaign, previously told Insider.
The law would have gone into effect summer 2021.