Ohio Governor, Mike DeWine signs executive order, Friday, January 5, 2024.

Executive Order: Governor DeWine bans gender transition surgeries for Ohio minors

Friday, January 5, 2024

WSYX Columbus, Ohio

By Staff writers

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Gov. Mike DeWine announced Friday morning that he has signed an executive order banning gender transition surgeries for minors in Ohio.

The governor said the order will take effect immediately.

DeWine vetoed House Bill 68 last week, saying he “cannot sign this bill as it is currently written.”

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It is also referred to as the SAFE Act or the trans bill.

Whatever you call it, the controversial bill would have banned gender-affirming care, including hormone treatments, for minors.

When DeWine announced his decision to veto last week, he said he would put further thought into it, and asked lawmakers to do the same. Ohio House Republicans own enough of a majority that an override of the veto is likely. They are scheduled to convene next week, but would need at least some support from the senate, which isn’t scheduled to meet until later in the month.

“My job was to study this issue and decide whether to sign it,” DeWine said Friday. “We’re doing this because we think it’s the right thing to do.”

ABC 6’s Kate Siefert attended Friday’s news conference, during which DeWine reiterated his position that families — and not the state — know what is best for their children.

But the governor laid out new plans for a revised bill that were not included in the original HB 68:

The Ohio departments of health and mental health will file rules that will provide protections for kids and adults receiving care at Ohio hospitals. DeWine said he is doing this to protect people from getting medication from unauthorized places.

The Ohio Department of Health must require healthcare providers to report data that would keep track of any gender-affirming care. But the governor said that data would stay private.

Every patient would be required to have a care plan that will include parents and medical care professionals that would lay out the risks of treatment. DeWine also emphasized a requirement for mental health counseling prior to treatment.

“This type of practice has to have two things — one is a lead-up of someone for significant time who is a professional counselor in the area of mental health,” DeWine said Friday. “And two, the other medical professionals who can also advise that patient.”

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