Thread by @ByPiperHutch

Senate Judiciary A is meeting to discuss Rep. @FirmentGabe’s HB648, which would ban gender affirming healthcare for trans youth. No Democrats are present. #lalege #lagov

The bill was initially killed in Health and Welfare, but it was discharged to Judiciary A last night. Here's some background on this unusual move: #lalege #lagov

lailluminator.com/2023/06/01/ban…

Also notably absent are the usual crowd of LGBTQ+-rights advocates. I'm told some advocates were concerned about their physical safety. It's unclear if anybody is here to testify in opposition. #lalege #lagov

Sen. @wjluneau confirms to me that the Democrats are boycotting the meeting #lalege #lagov

Committee now taking up the ban. Committee Chair Barrow Peacock wants to focus on the legal remedy portions of the bill, rather than the healthcare aspect. Asks if somebody from @AGJeffLandry's office is present to speak on that. #lalege #lagov

Sen. Heather Cloud is proposing an amendment that would change the effective date from July 1 to Jan 1. Amending the bill adds an additional step the bill has to go through (concurrence on amendments on the house side) that adds to the time crunch the bill faces #lalege #lagov

The amendments, which were approved, also extend the deadline for taking trans youth off of their course of treating from the end of this year to the end of next year. Doctors tell me there is no amount of time that would make ending care safe. #lalege #lagov

Peacock asks public commenters to limit their remarks to the legal remedies in the bill #lalege #lagov

There were a handful of red cards in opposition, but none who wished to speak #lalege #lagov

Without objection, the committee advances Rep.
@FirmentGabe’s HB648, which would ban gender affirming healthcare for trans youth. No Democrats are present for the vote #lalege #lagov