COLUMBUS, Ohio — Governor Mike DeWine announced his decision on House Bill 68, a bill that looks to ban gender-affirming care for minors and block transgender student-athletes from participating in girls' and women's sports.
DeWine had 10 days to make a decision on the bill that was approved by the Ohio House and Senate earlier this month. He vetoed the measure on Friday, minutes before a press conference.
GOP lawmakers hold enough seats to override DeWine’s veto, but if or when they would do so was not immediately clear. Both within and between chambers, Republican legislators have not been in lockstep this year.
In a news conference Friday, DeWine said he had listened to people on both sides of the legislation who “truly believe their position best protects children.”
He found that the bill would affect a small number of Ohio children, “but for those children who face gender dysphoria and for their families, the consequences of this bill could not be more profound.”
“Ultimately, I believe this is about protecting human life,” he said, announcing his decision to veto the legislation.
After receiving the bill, DeWine spent time visiting hospitals and speaking with families helped and harmed by gender-affirming care.
Lt. Gov. Jon Husted posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, expressing his support for House Bill 68.
"I support it for two main reasons: Men should not compete in women’s sports. Permanent medical decisions concerning gender should not be made when you are a child. I hope the SAFE Act will become law in Ohio," Husted said in his post.
On Dec. 13, State senators approved the multifaceted bill by a vote of 24-8. A lone Republican, Sen. Nathan Manning of Northeast Ohio, joined Democrats in a “no” vote.
That same evening, the Ohio House of Representatives passed the bill with a 61-27 vote.
Under the legislation, minors in Ohio would have been prohibited from taking puberty blockers and undergoing other hormone therapies or receiving gender reassignment surgery that would further align them with their gender identity.
An amendment added this month changes a provision that would have forced children receiving gender-affirming care to stop treatment or leave the state to obtain it. The latest version of the bill allows for any minor who is an Ohio resident currently receiving care to see that care through.
Since 2021, more than 20 states have enacted laws restricting or banning such treatments, despite the fact that they have been available in the United States for more than a decade and are endorsed by major medical associations. Most of these states face lawsuits, but courts have issued mixed rulings.