South Carolina Republicans weigh transgender health restrictions as Missouri sees similar bills

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Restrictions on medical care for transgender minors are up for debate in the South Carolina House on Wednesday, as a slew of like-minded proposals receive discussion in a Missouri legislative committee.

The measures' consideration highlights the continued interest among conservative lawmakers in targeting issues impacting transgender residents after last year's wave of high-profile bills.

South Carolina is one of the few Southern states without a ban on gender-affirming care for minors. Its Republican-dominated House was expected to debate a bill Wednesday that would bar health professionals from performing gender-transition surgeries, prescribing puberty-blocking drugs and overseeing hormone treatments for patients under 18 years old. People under 26 years old could not use Medicaid to cover the costs for such care.

Missouri’s Republican legislative leaders have said LGBTQ+-related bills are not a top priority this session after lawmakers last year passed a partial ban on gender-affirming health care treatments for minors and limits on what sports teams student athletes can join based on the sex they were assigned at birth.