"Shield" laws protecting access to gender-affirming healthcare for people
under 18  State  |  Authority  |  Signed  |  Effective  |  Notes
---|---|---|---|---
 Connecticut 
|  Governor  Ned Lamont  |  May 5, 2022  |
May 5, 2022  |  On May 5, 2022, Governor Ned Lamont signed House Bill 5414, a
shield law that designates Connecticut as a "safe harbor" which protects
people who provide abortions and gender affirming care in the state, as well
as legal protections for people seeking abortions and gender-affirming health
care from out-of-state.  [240]  [241]
 Massachusetts  |  Governor  Charlie Baker  |  July 29, 2022  |  July 29, 2022  |  On July 29, 2022, Governor
Charlie Baker signed a shield law which protects access to abortion and
gender-affirming health care in the state.  [242]
 California  |
Governor  Gavin Newsom  |  September 30,
2022  |  January 1, 2023  |  On September 30, 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom
signed SB 107, a shield law which designates California as a "sanctuary state"
for trans youth and their families who are fleeing from other states that have
banned the practice.  [243]
 District of Columbia  |  Mayor  Muriel Bowser
 |  November 21, 2022  |  November 21,
2022  |  On November 21, 2022, Mayor Muriel Bowser signed into law D.C. ACT
24-646, the Human Rights Sanctuary Amendment Act of 2022, which protects the
right to bodily autonomy and of those seeking care for abortion,
contraception, sexual conduct, intimate relationships, and gender affirmation.
[244]
 Illinois  |
Governor  JB Pritzker  |  January 13, 2023
[245]  |  January 13, 2023  |  On January 13, 2023, Governor JB Pritzker
signed into law HB4664, a reproductive rights and gender affirming care
omnibus bill that protects health care providers and their patients from legal
attacks by neighboring states and expands reproductive and gender affirming
health care access and options across the state. The bill takes historic
action to protect Illinois providers and their patients, thousands of whom
have traveled to Illinois to access essential care now banned in their home
states.
 New Mexico  |
Governor  Michelle Lujan Grisham  |  March 16, 2023  |  March 16, 2023  |  On March 16, 2023,
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed into law House Bill 7, the Reproductive
and Gender-Affirming Health Care Act, which prohibits public bodies, including
local municipalities, from denying, restricting, or discriminating against an
individual's right to use or refuse reproductive health care or health care
related to gender.  [246]
 Vermont  |  Governor
 Phil Scott  |  March 29, 2023  |  September
2023  |  On March 29, 2023, Governor Phil Scott signed into law House Bill 89
and Senate Bill 37, which establish a slate of protections for both providers
and seekers of gender affirming health care, as well as those seeking or
administering abortions.  [247]
 New Jersey  |
Governor  Phil Murphy  |  April 4, 2023  |
April 4, 2023  |  On April 4, 2023, Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive
Order No. 326 establishing New Jersey as a safe haven for gender-affirming
health care by directing all state departments and agencies to protect all
persons, including health care professionals and patients, against potential
repercussions resulting from providing, receiving, assisting in providing or
receiving, seeking, or traveling to New Jersey to obtain gender-affirming
health care services.  [248]
 Colorado  |
Governor  Jared Polis  |  April 14, 2023  |
April 14, 2023  |  On April 14, 2023, Governor Jared Polis signed into law a
trio of health care bills enshrining access to abortion and gender-affirming
procedures and medications in Colorado. These bills ensure people in
surrounding states and beyond can go to Colorado to have an abortion, begin
puberty blockers or receive gender-affirming surgery without fear of
prosecution.  [249]
 Minnesota  |
Governor  Tim Walz  |  April 27, 2023  |  April
27, 2023  |  On April 27, 2023, Governor Tim Walz signed a shield law which
protects minors fleeing from other states to receive gender-affirming care.
[250]
 Washington  |
Governor  Jay Inslee  |  May 9, 2023  |  May
9, 2023  |  On May 9, 2023, Governor Jay Inslee signed a shield law
designating Washington as a "sanctuary state" for trans youth.  [251]
 Maryland  |
Governor  Wes Moore  |  June 6, 2023  |  June
6, 2023  |  On June 6, 2023, Governor Wes Moore signed an executive order to
protect gender affirming health care in Maryland. The order will protect those
seeking, receiving, or providing gender affirming care in Maryland from
attempts at legal punishment by other states.  [252]
 New York  |
Governor  Kathy Hochul  |  June 26, 2023
|  June 26, 2023  |  On June 26, 2023, Governor Kathy Hochul signed a shield
law designating Washington as a "sanctuary state" for trans youth. This law
protects access to transition-related medical care for transgender minors and
bars state courts from enforcing the laws of other states that might authorize
a child to be taken away if the parents provide gender-affirming medical care,
including puberty blockers and hormone therapy. It also prohibits New York
courts from considering transition-related care for minors as child abuse and
bars state and local authorities from cooperating with out-of-state agencies
regarding the provision of lawful gender-affirming care in New York.  [253]
 Arizona  |  Governor
 Katie Hobbs  |  June 28, 2023  |  June 28,
2023  |  On March 30, 2022, Governor  Doug Ducey  signed a bill banning gender-affirming surgery for minors, but not
hormones and puberty blockers. The bill also makes some exceptions, including
in the case of someone born intersex.  [219]  On June 28, 2023, a new
Governor,  Katie Hobbs  reversed course by
signing a series of executive orders which include shield-style protections
for gender-affirming care, ensuring that it remains legal in Arizona. It also
bans conversion therapy, requires insurance plans to cover gender-affirming
care and bars state agencies from cooperating with civil and criminal cases in
states where gender-affirming health care is illegal.  [221]
 Oregon  |  Governor 
Tina Kotek  |  July 13, 2023  |  July 13, 2023
|  On May 9, 2023, Governor Tina Kotek signed a law protecting access to
abortion and gender affirming care for trans youth. Minors between the ages of
15 and 17 can receive gender affirming care without parental permission,
whereas youth ages 14 and under must have parental permission.  [254]