Protect Children’s Innocence Act

New exemption (g)(2)(E) allows genital or bodily mutilation or chemical castration of a minor diagnosed with precocious puberty when the purpose is to normalize puberty. This is a significant carve-out from the criminal prohibition.

Exception (g)(2)(C) was narrowed: the prior version exempted complications from 'previous gender transition procedures,' while the new version exempts only complications from 'a previous genital or bodily mutilation procedure or chemical castration' as defined in the statute.

The definition of 'biological sex' was simplified from a multi-factor test (reproductive potential, sex chromosomes, hormones, gonads, genitalia present at birth) to simply 'the classification of the person as male or female at birth.'

New definitions for 'male' and 'female' were added, each defined by reference to a reproductive system that produces sperm (male) or eggs (female), with exceptions for congenital anomalies, historical accidents, or intentional or unintentional disruption.

The exclusion in (g)(1)(B) was expanded from excluding only 'a mental health disorder' from the definition of a minor's health, to also excluding 'mental, behavioral, or emotional distress.' This makes it harder to claim a medical necessity defense based on psychological conditions.

New paragraph (h)(1)(F) adds urethral reconstruction surgery (with or without metoidioplasty or phalloplasty) to the list of procedures constituting genital or bodily mutilation.

Definition (h)(1)(C) was broadened from covering only 'facial features' to 'facial or other physiological features,' expanding which plastic surgeries fall under the prohibition.