AR HB1916

Expands Arkansas's Protecting Minors from Medical Malpractice Act of 2023 to add "gender-affirming interventions" (puberty blockers and cross-sex hormone therapy) as grounds for medical malpractice lawsuits alongside existing coverage of gender transition procedures

Healthcare professionals and mental health professionals who perform these interventions on minors can be held liable for physical, psychological, emotional, or physiological injuries

Injured minors or their representatives may sue for declaratory/injunctive relief, compensatory damages, punitive damages, and attorney's fees, with a 15-year statute of limitations after the minor turns 18

Establishes a safe harbor defense requiring: 2 years of documented gender inconsistency, certification from at least 2 healthcare professionals that no other mental health concerns exist, and voluntary informed consent

Mandates extensive verbal and written disclosures at least 30 days before treatment and during subsequent visits for 6 months, including warnings about risks, European medical authority findings, regret rates, and specific health risks of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones