BOISE, Idaho — House Bill 520, which would ban public funds for transgender medical care, is headed to the house floor after a committee vote Wednesday.
If passed, public funds could not be used for gender-affirming surgeries or medical treatments like hormone therapy or puberty blockers. The bill also states Idaho Medicaid could not reimburse or provide coverage for that type of care.
Co-sponsor Julianne Young, R-Blackfoot, said the bill resulted from a years-long conversation. She does not think it is appropriate for Idaho to use its tax dollars on highly controversial procedures.
One community member who testified agreed.
"The idea of our Idaho tax dollars or thought of our tax dollars being used to help pay for medical mutilations is repugnant to [me and my husband] and against the tenets of our faith," she said.
People against the bill said transgender Idahoans are taxpayers, too, and should be able to use their medical coverage as they see fit. The ACLU of Idaho also argued the bill is unconstitutional and restricts access to medically necessary care.
"Such a move would cause predictable and dire harm, frankly avoidable harm," legislative strategist Amy Dundon said. "It would needlessly cause additional distress to a community already stigmatized. It would rob transgender Idahoans of their fundamental right to live full lives."
Sponsors point out the legislation would save Idaho money, although they cannot give a specific amount.
One of the lawmakers who voted no pushed back on that idea. He said Idaho would end up spending money fighting lawsuits because of the bill.
House Bill 520 is one of several bills this legislative session focused on the LGBTQ+ community.
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