A controversial measure that outlaws gender transitioning services for transgender minors was resurrected within hours of the lawmaking sessions.
Ten day recess period.
Last night, Senate Republicans voted to pare down an omnibus measure that many of them claimed was too broad and too far reaching.
And the House Education Committee this afternoon.
Senate Bill 150 was resuscitated.
Details in tonight's legislative update.
It addresses policies about educator use of student preferred pronouns that don't conform to their biological sex.
Prohibits school policies that keep confidential students information from parents, and lays out school curriculum rules about teaching human sexuality, sexually transmitted diseases, gender identity and sexual orientation.
Senate Bill 150 was used it as a vehicle to attach a measure that bans what's called gender affirming care, such as reassignment surgery or puberty blockers for youth under 18 who don't identify with their biological sex.
Which pitched outrage today?
LG Q Advocates testified that the measure would lead to more suicides of trans youth.
You're going to kill kids.
The board will be on your hands.
Shame on every one of you for doing this.
Overruling Parents rights.
The party of small government reaching further into people's personal decisions than I have ever seen before.
And all of your studies are junk science.
I've sent you a dozen U.S. studies, not Swedish studies, that show the medical effectiveness and the life saving care that this is.
And previous legislative hearings on the matter.
Physicians with the Kentucky Medical Association and other medical groups testified against legislation that bans transitioning services for non-gender conforming youth.
Emma Curtis of Sales revisited that testimony as she blasted the measure before lawmakers on the education panel.
You are going to put providers in a position where they can either provide the ethical standards of care to their patients or become a felon.
Shame on you.
There is no excuse.
This is reprehensible.
And I can guarantee you right now, if you pass this, this will go down in history.
You will be on the wrong side of history, just like those who voted to keep things segregated against black people.
This is wrong.
So the bill also says now that to respect parental rights, children in grade five and below are not to receive any instruction through curriculum or programs on human sexuality or sexually transmitted diseases.
And any child, regardless of grade level, is not to be taught or presented material with the purpose of studying or exploring gender identity, gender expression or sexual orientation.
The bill's language also calls for local school boards to adopt policies that confine trans students to the use of restrooms, locker rooms and showers to their biological sex.
I'm feeling a lot of feelings for the people who have been here again and again and again to speak out against this bill, to beg for their lives, for their children's lives, to be recognized, to be acknowledged, to be the people they were born to be.
Asked, stand today as the mother of a victim of suicide.
And I certainly understand how other parents might feel thinking that they might be going through this.
And I think today we need to think about what we do when we walk into those churches on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights.
On the House floor.
House Speaker Pro Tem David Mead defended the omnibus trans measure as one that he says protects children, especially when it comes to gender.
Transitioning operations and medications.
We need to ensure that surgery or drugs that completely alter their life and alter their body is not something we should be allowing until they are adults who could choose it for themselves.
This is the right thing to do for these children, is just to wait till they're a little bit older to make that choice.
After some intense and emotional commentary on the floor, the wide ranging measure passed the House 75 to 22.
It now goes back to the Senate for review and final passage.
At the time we prepared our broadcast this evening, the Senate was still voting and acting on that measure.
We can update you perhaps if a vote comes in.