Chloe Cole Act

The Chloe Cole Act aims to prohibit health care professionals, hospitals, and clinics from engaging in what it defines as "chemical or surgical mutilation" of individuals under 18 years of age. This term encompasses the use of puberty blockers , sex hormones , and certain surgical procedures intended to halt natural development or change a child's body to no longer correspond to their biological sex. The bill specifies that these prohibitions apply when there is an interstate commerce nexus, such as travel, payment, or communication across state lines. However, the legislation includes several important exclusions, such as medically necessary procedures to treat verifiable disorders of sexual development , treatment for infections or injuries, and interventions for acute, life-threatening conditions. It also explicitly excludes and supports detransition treatment , which involves stopping or reversing the effects of prior interventions or helping individuals cope with them. The bill establishes a private right of action , allowing children who were subjected to these prohibited procedures, or their parents, to file civil lawsuits for damages, including compensatory, non-economic, and punitive damages, regardless of when the alleged mutilation occurred. For violations after enactment, strict liability applies, and the statute of limitations is set at 25 years from the individual's 18th birthday or 4 years from the cost of detransition treatment, whichever is later.