GUARD Act

The GUARD Act (S 851) requires states to comply with specific parental rights conditions to receive federal child welfare funding under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act. It prohibits states from taking adverse actions against parents or guardians who oppose gender-related medical, social, or treatment interventions for minors, defining "biological sex" as determined at birth regardless of medical diagnoses. States violating this provision risk losing federal funds, and affected parents can sue to stop funding to the state and recover improperly awarded money. This directly impacts parents of minors, states receiving federal child welfare funds, and the enforcement process for federal grant compliance.