Prohibit Surgeries for Treatment in Response to Minors' Perception of Sex or Gender Measure
Colorado Ballot Measure - Initiative 110
Election: Nov. 3, 2026 (General)
Outcome: Pending
Categories:
Minors and ChildrenSexual Orientation and Gender Identity
Summary
The ballot initiative would prohibit healthcare professionals from performing or providing surgeries to anyone under age 18 for the purpose of changing the persons sex characteristics based on their perception of sex or gender. The ballot initiative would also prohibit state and federal funds, such as Medicaid, or insurance coverage, from paying for these surgeries. These bans would not include "treatment for persons born with a medically verifiable disorder of sex development," "treatment for acquired physical or chemical abnormalities," and male circumcision.
As of 2026, medical procedures for transgender minors are legal in Colorado, and health insurance providers are prohibited from denying or limiting coverage for such procedures when a healthcare provider determines the treatment is medically necessary.
The terms used to describe the procedures referenced in this initiative differ between supporters and opponents.
The ballot initiative describes these procedures as altering a childs biological sex; the campaign, Protect Kids Colorado, called them irreversible sex change surgeries; and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. issued a declaration describing them as pediatric sex-rejecting procedures.
Colorado defined these procedures in state law as gender-affirming healthcare designed to address gender dysphoria; the American Academy of Pediatrics described them as gender-affirmative surgical interventions; and the ACLU called them gender-affirming medical care.
Measure Text
Be it enacted by the people of the State of Colorado:
SECTION 1. Legislative Declaration. (1) The people of Colorado do hereby find and
declare that:
(a) Children lack the maturity to make permanent, life-altering medical decisions;
(b) Medical treatments or interventions that attempt to surgically alter a minor childs
biological sex often result in serious, irreversible consequences, including sterility;
(c) European nations, including Sweden, Finland, and the United Kingdom, have halted
surgery due to the serious and widespread harm resulting from that intervention; and
(d) Colorado law already protects children from other, permanent and potentially life altering decisions, such as consuming alcohol and smoking. The same protections should
apply to irreversible medical interventions related to biological sex.
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 12-30-125 as follows:
12-30-125. Prohibition on surgery for minors prohibition on state funding for
surgery - short title definitions.
(1) Short title. THE SHORT TITLE OF THIS SECTION IS THE PROTECT CHILDREN FROM
IRREVERSIBLE SEX CHANGE SURGERY ACT.
(2) Definitions. AS USED IN THIS SECTION, UNLESS THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE REQUIRES:
(a) ALTERING BIOLOGICAL SEX CHARACTERISTICS MEANS TREATMENT IN RESPONSE TO
A MINORS PERCEPTION OF SEX OR GENDER. IT DOES NOT INCLUDE TREATMENT FOR
PERSONS BORN WITH A MEDICALLY VERIFIABLE DISORDER OF SEX DEVELOPMENT OR
TREATMENT FOR ACQUIRED PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL ABNORMALITIES. ALTERING
BIOLOGICAL SEX CHARACTERISTICS DOES NOT INCLUDE MALE CIRCUMCISION.
(b) HEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONAL MEANS ANY PERSON LICENSED IN THIS STATE OR ANY
OTHER STATE TO PRACTICE MEDICINE, CHIROPRACTIC, NURSING, PHYSICAL THERAPY,
PODIATRY, DENTISTRY, PHARMACY, OPTOMETRY, PSYCHIATRY, PSYCHOLOGY, MENTAL
HEALTH THERAPY, OR OTHER HEALING ARTS. THE TERM INCLUDES ANY PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL ENTITY COMPRISED OF SUCH HEALTH-CARE
PROVIDERS AS PERMITTED BY THE LAWS OF THIS STATE.
(c) MINOR MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE.
(3) Prohibition on medical interventions on minors. A HEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONAL OR
OTHER PERSON SHALL NOT KNOWINGLY PERFORM, PRESCRIBE, ADMINISTER, OR PROVIDE
ANY SURGERY TO A MINOR FOR THE PURPOSE OF ALTERING BIOLOGICAL SEX
CHARACTERISTICS.
(4) NO STATE OR FEDERAL FUNDS, MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENTS, OR INSURANCE
COVERAGE MAY BE USED TO PAY FOR ANY PROHIBITED MEDICAL INTERVENTIONS
DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (3) OF THIS SECTION.
(5) Severability. IF ANY SECTION OF THIS SECTION IS FOUND UNCONSTITUTIONAL OR
INVALID, THE REMAINING SECTIONS SHALL REMAIN IN EFFECT.
SECTION 3. Effective date - applicability. This measure shall become effective on
January 1, 2027, and apply to violations occurring on or after the effective date.
Resources
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