“With the House expected to spend long hours this week working on the 2025-26 budget, members wrapped up their work on Sunday on four measures dealing with abortion and transgender issues, one of which would penalize ‘deadnaming’ and ‘misgendering.’”

“Senate Bill 183 would conform state statutes to the voters’ decision last November to enshrine the right to an abortion into the state Constitution. The Amendment 79 initiative also allows for state funding of abortions for Medicaid clients and state employees.”

“The House then moved on to House Bill 1309, which codifies ‘gender-affirming care’ in statute and prohibits health insurance providers from denying or limiting such care, as prescribed by a physical or behavioral healthcare provider.”

“HB 1309 passed on a 40-20 party-line vote with five excused. It now heads to the Senate.”

“House Bill 1312 seeks to penalize ‘deadnaming’ and ‘misgendering’ as discriminatory actions and to mandate the courts to include such claims in determining the allocation of parenting time in custody cases."

“The 36-20 vote once again found [Dem. Rep. Bob] Marshall siding with Republicans, with nine excused. HB 1312 now heads to the Senate."

“The final bill, Senate Bill 129, deals with legal protections for abortion and gender transition services.”

“The bill passed on a 39-20 vote with Marshall voting ‘no,’ along with the Republicans. It now returns to the Senate for review of House amendments.”