Fargo Standard

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum has signed HB 1254, which prohibits the administration of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgical interventions to minors with the aim of altering their gender.

According to American Principles Project, North Dakota now joins 15 other states in restricting such procedures for children.

"This growing scandal must be addressed immediately, which is why it is encouraging to see so many states now taking action, including North Dakota. APP thanks Gov. Burgum and North Dakota lawmakers for acting to protect children from the predatory transgender industry, and we urge the remaining states without such protections to follow suit as soon as possible," said Terry Schilling, president of American Principles Project.

Under the new bill, doctors who conduct gender-affirming surgeries may face a class B felony, resulting in a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Additionally, prescribing medication with the intention of aligning a minor's sex with their self-perception is considered a class A misdemeanor, which could result in up to one year of imprisonment, UPI reported.

“The transgender industry is committing medical malpractice on a massive scale. In reality, sex changes are impossible—no person can truly change their biology. Nevertheless, for years now, ideologically captured medical practitioners have been offering dangerous, experimental drugs and procedures to vulnerable individuals in mental distress, with little to no regard for their long-term health," Schilling said. "This misconduct has been especially egregious when it comes to children, who are far too young to comprehend the lifelong consequences of sterilizing and mutilating their bodies."

Washington Times reports that while the new law goes into effect immediately, minors who are already taking gender-transition drugs are exempt from it. The governor's office has confirmed that gender-reassignment surgeries are not being carried out on children in North Dakota.