Senate Republicans Pass Bills to Protect Children, Restore Commonsense Standards
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, February 23, 2026
PHOENIX, ARIZONA— Senate Republicans are standing up for common sense and child safety, passing legislation today blocking gender transition procedures for minors, strengthening accountability for providers, and sending a public-school protections measure to voters. All Senate Republicans voted in support of the legislation, while every Senate Democrat voted in opposition.
SB 1095, sponsored by Senator Mark Finchem, prohibits physicians and other health professionals from providing or referring minors for gender transition procedures, while preserving medical exceptions for certain disorders of sex development and emergency care. The legislation establishes professional discipline and civil remedies for violations and takes effect April 1, 2027.
"Children should not be subjected to irreversible medical procedures before they are mature enough to fully understand the lifelong consequences," said Senator Finchem. "This legislation puts responsible safeguards in place while ensuring legitimate medical care remains available when truly necessary."
The Senate also approved SB 1015, sponsored by former Majority Leader Jane Shamp, which establishes civil liability for health care professionals who provide gender transition procedures to minors. The bill allows individuals to pursue damages tied to detransition costs and long-term harms and prohibits liability waivers intended to shield providers from responsibility.
"When life-altering medical decisions involve minors, accountability must follow," said Senator Shamp. "This bill ensures patients have a clear path to justice if they are harmed and makes sure providers cannot walk away from the consequences years later."
Lawmakers additionally passed SCR 1006, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader John Kavanagh, referring a measure to the ballot that would require public schools to base restroom, locker room, school shower, and overnight accommodation policies on biological sex. It also requires parental permission before school employees use pronouns or names that differ from a student's biological sex at birth on official records, and it creates reasonable accommodation options for students who request additional privacy. The proposal allows Arizona voters to decide whether to establish uniform statewide standards governing these policies in public schools.
"This measure brings clarity to an issue that has created confusion and conflict in schools across the state," said Senator Kavanagh. "It protects student privacy, ensures consistent rules for schools, and gives voters the final say on how these sensitive policies should be handled in Arizona classrooms."
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For more information, contact:
Kim Quintero
Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus