Stop Gender Trafficking of Minors Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7420
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-02-09: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-18T03:08:23Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The "Stop Gender Trafficking of Minors Act" (H.R. 7420) aims to protect minors from what it describes as experimental and potentially harmful medical procedures related to gender transition. It establishes federal criminal penalties for transporting minors across state lines to obtain such procedures and restricts federal funding to governments that do not enforce or cooperate with these rules. The bill is based on congressional findings that highlight risks like long-term harm, lack of medical evidence, and the need for federal safeguards under the U.S. Constitution's Commerce Clause (which allows regulation of interstate activities).
Key Provisions
- Criminal Offense (New Section 1205 in 18 U.S.C. Chapter 55):
- It is a federal crime to knowingly transport a minor across state or international borders—or use mail, travel, or other interstate tools—to help the minor get a "gender transition procedure."
- Penalties include fines, up to 10 years in prison, or both.
- Civil Remedies:
- A minor, parent, or legal guardian affected by such transportation can sue in federal court for a court order to stop the activity (injunctive relief), money damages (compensatory and punitive), and legal fees.
- Definition of "Gender Transition Procedure":
- Includes medical or surgical steps to change a minor's physical sex traits to differ from their biological sex, such as:
- Puberty-blocking drugs (including travel for appointments or obtaining them).
- Cross-sex hormones (hormones from the opposite biological sex).
- Surgeries like mastectomy (breast removal), phalloplasty (creating male genitals), vaginoplasty (creating female genitals), or other changes to primary or secondary sex characteristics.
- Federal Funding Restrictions:
- Bars federal money from going to states, local governments, or other entities that:
- Allow or promote transporting minors across states for these procedures.
- Declare themselves "sanctuary" areas for such procedures (meaning they protect or refuse to enforce laws against them).
- Refuse to help federal investigations of violations.
- Fail to assist in federal probes or enforcement of the act.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Adds a new criminal statute (18 U.S.C. § 1205) to Chapter 55 of Title 18, which deals with kidnapping and related crimes, expanding federal jurisdiction over interstate transportation of minors for specific medical purposes—similar to laws on transporting minors for illegal activities like prostitution (Mann Act).
- Introduces a novel federal funding condition tied to state cooperation on gender-related medical issues, which is not currently in existing law. This builds on broader federal powers to withhold funds but targets a specific social policy area.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Federal agencies (e.g., Department of Justice) would gain enforcement tools, including investigations and prosecutions, potentially increasing workload. States and localities could lose federal grants (e.g., for health or education) if they do not comply, affecting budgets and services.
- On Citizens: Families seeking gender-affirming care for minors might face legal risks for interstate travel, limiting access to medical options. Affected minors or parents could pursue civil lawsuits, but this might deter doctors or clinics from providing care due to liability fears.
- On International Relations: The law's focus on foreign commerce could affect cross-border medical tourism, potentially straining ties with countries offering such procedures, though impacts would likely be minimal and indirect.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Minors and Families: Directly targeted for protection, but could face restricted healthcare access and family conflicts.
- Parents and Legal Guardians: Gain civil lawsuit rights but risk criminal charges if involved in transportation.
- Medical Professionals and Providers: Clinics or doctors offering these procedures might see reduced patients from other states and face indirect pressure through enforcement.
- State and Local Governments: Must align policies with federal rules to keep funding, potentially leading to new state laws or conflicts with existing ones.
- Federal Law Enforcement: Agencies like the FBI would handle new cases, shifting resources toward these investigations.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal/Constitutional: Relies on the Commerce Clause to justify federal control over interstate travel, which could face court challenges for overreaching into state medical regulations or parental rights (e.g., under the 14th Amendment's due process clause). The broad definition of "gender transition procedure" might lead to disputes over what counts as "knowing" transport or medical intent. Civil remedies could empower private lawsuits, similar to other federal tort laws.
- Political: The bill reflects debates on transgender youth healthcare, emphasizing protection from "irreversible" procedures amid growing state-level restrictions. It could polarize views on federal vs. state authority, with supporters seeing it as child safeguarding and critics as infringing on personal freedoms or medical autonomy. As an introduced bill (not yet law), its passage would depend on congressional committees like Judiciary and Oversight.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. Crane, Elijah [R-AZ-2], Rep. Fry, Russell [R-SC-7], Rep. Luna, Anna Paulina [R-FL-13]
Recent Actions
- 2026-02-09: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-02-09: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-02-09: Introduced in House
- 2026-02-09: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Stop Gender Trafficking of Minors Act — issued 2026-02-09 — PDF (4 pages)