Arkansas bill targeting those who knowingly contribute to social transitioning of minors pulled for changes

Yahoo

19-03-2025

LITTLE ROCK, Ark – An Arkansas bill targeting those who contribute to the social transitioning of minors was pulled so legislators could make changes.
The Vulnerable Youth Protection Act, sponsored by Rep. Mary Bentley (R-Perryville), aims to allow for civil action for people who knowingly contribute to the social transitioning or gender reassignment surgery of a minor.
Supporters of the bill like Rebecca Smith say social transitioning poses a risk for children and adolescents in Arkansas.
'Members of the committee this is not about politics it is about protecting children, preserving families, and ensuring that every child grows up supported and loved not alienated or confused,' Smith said.
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Those against the legislation like Evelyn Rios Stafford are worried about the scope of the bill.
'It opens the door to frivolous lawsuits, and it creates confusion I think from the public about what is protected by the First Amendment and what isn't,' Stafford said.
The debate mainly surrounded the definition of social transitioning.
The bill currently defines social transitioning as any act by which a minor adopts or espouses a gender identity that differs from the minor's biological gender as determined by the sex organs, chromosomes, and endogenous profiles of the minor, including without limitation changes in clothing, pronouns, hairstyle, and name.
There were also concerns about conflict with the First Amendment.
Justin Brascher with the Attorney General's Office told the committee the way the bill stands, they didn't feel like they could defend it in court.
'Our concern there is when you are criminalizing or in this case proving a civil cause of action for certain forms of speech that has to pass a very very high constitutional bar and we have to be able to defend that in court and we think, as this bill currently is, we can't defend that,' Brascher said.
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Bentley withdrew the bill, telling the committee she would work with the attorney general's office to amend it.
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