Arkansas lawmakers override Hutchinson veto

The Arkansas State Legislature on Tuesday voted to override Gov. Asa Hutchinson's (R) veto on legislation that bans gender reassignment surgeries and other treatments for transgender youth.

The majority-Republican state House voted 72 to 25 to approve the controversial bill before sending the legislation back to the state Senate, which rejected the governor's veto of the bill in a 25-8 vote, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Both chambers required a simple majority to override the veto.

HB1570, sponsored by Ark. Rep. Robin Lundstrom (R-Elm Springs), prohibits doctors from providing gender-confirming hormone treatment, puberty blockers or surgery to minors or from referring them to other providers for the treatment. The legislation also restricts doctors from giving recommendations to other providers for these treatments.

The ACLU released a tweet saying they are preparing to sue over the bill.

Today Arkansas legislators disregarded widespread, overwhelming, and bipartisan opposition to this bill and continued their discriminatory crusade against trans youth," Holly Dickson, ACLU of Arkansas Executive Director, said.