Senate Republicans Advance Bold Protections to Take on Insurance Companies, Ban Taxpayer-Funded Gender Transition Surgeries

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 18, 2026

PHOENIX, ARIZONA—Arizona Senate Republicans are advancing legislation that would prohibit taxpayer funding for gender transition surgeries and require that insurance companies cover detransition procedures if they offer coverage for transition services. The legislation passed the Senate today and now moves to the House, where discussions will continue as lawmakers work to bring greater accountability, transparency, and balance to healthcare policy.

SB 1014, sponsored by Former Majority Leader Janae Shamp, establishes clear, patient-centered standards by prohibiting health insurers that offer coverage for gender transition services from denying coverage for gender detransition services. The bill also requires certain healthcare providers who perform transition procedures to offer detransition care, ensuring continuity of care for patients. Additionally, it outlines reporting requirements and sets standards for updating official documents related to name, sex, and gender, bringing structure and accountability to a system that has lacked both.

"If insurance companies are going to profit from covering gender transition procedures, they must also take responsibility for the continuum of care – including detransition," said Senator Shamp. "We are hearing more and more stories from individuals who feel misled, who regret these procedures, and who are left without support when they seek to reverse course. That is unacceptable. This legislation ensures that patients are not abandoned and that insurers cannot pick and choose coverage based on convenience or ideology. If they're going to cover the front end, they must cover the consequences on the back end. That's not just policy – that's basic fairness and accountability."

SB 1177, sponsored by Senator Wendy Rogers, focuses on protecting taxpayers by prohibiting the use of public monies to fund gender transition procedures. This measure ensures that Arizona tax dollars are not used to subsidize mutilation interventions, reinforcing the principle that taxpayer funds should be used responsibly in the public's best interests.

"Arizonans should not be forced to subsidize life-altering procedures that many fundamentally disagree with," said Senator Rogers. "These are serious medical interventions with permanent consequences, and taxpayers deserve a say in how their hard-earned dollars are spent. This legislation draws a clear line: public funds should not be used to finance procedures that are medically and ethically disputed. We are standing up for fiscal responsibility and for the countless citizens who expect their government to prioritize core services over experimental or elective procedures."

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For more information, contact:

Kim Quintero

Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus

kquintero@azleg.gov