A measure prohibiting gender-affirming care for Louisiana minors and altering appearance based on a minor’s perception of sexual identity was the sole bill to become law as a result of last week’s veto-override session.
Both the Louisiana Senate and House of Representatives on July 18 voted to override Gov. John Bel Edwards’ veto of House Bill 648, authored by Rep. Michael "Gabe" Firment (R-Pollock). To override vetoes, each house of the state Legislature must support legislation by at least a two-thirds vote.
HB 648, dubbed the “Stop Harming Our Kids Act,” will bar minors from receiving puberty blockers or hormone treatments in Louisiana. Supporters said the veto override would protect children from gender-reassignment surgeries, but Edwards argued in his veto message concerning HB 648 that from 2017 to 2021, no such surgical procedures have occurred in Louisiana.
“By overriding the governor's veto of Rep. Gabe Firment's bill, we send a clear signal that woke liberal agendas that are destructive to children will not be tolerated in Louisiana,” state Attorney General Jeff Landry said after last week’s veto-override session.
Rachel Chatters, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Louisiana chapter, said in a statement emailed to the Louisiana Record that the chapter was “disappointed and alarmed” by the veto override.
“This bill goes much further and criminalizes the practice of medicine and the plan of care of heterosexual and LGBTQ children alike,” Chatters said. “It is unfortunate to see the Legislature override this veto instead of choosing to examine this policy through other legislation that ensures children and families receive evidence-based and appropriate counseling and care so that all parties can make the best decision as they mature.”
The veto-override session could have continued over five days, but it was adjourned during the first day. Two other measures – one that would have barred the sale of farmland to designated foreign adversaries and one that would have expanded student exemptions from vaccine mandates – were brought up for votes but failed to receive two-thirds margins.
Two measures favored by business groups – Senate Bill 1, the proposed phase-out of the state’s corporate franchise tax, and Senate Bill 196, which would have mandated disclosure of third-person litigation financing contracts in civil cases – did not come up for votes during the override session.
This was the second veto to be overridden during Edwards’ administration. State lawmakers also overrode Edwards’ veto of the congressional redistricting map in March of 2022.