Summary — HB 7135
Title: AN ACT CONCERNING THE PROVISION OF REPRODUCTIVE AND GENDER-AFFIRMING HEALTH CARE SERVICES TO PATIENTS
Bill number: HB 7135 (File No. 769)
Introduced: March 3, 2025
Committee: Joint Committee on the Judiciary
Public hearing: March 24, 2025
LCO filing: April 7, 2025
Recent actions: Joint Favorable Substitute (4/4/25); referred to OLR & OFA (4/17/25); reported out of LCO and favorably reported, tabled for House calendar (4/24/25). House Calendar No. 482.
Important note: The full legislative text was not provided. This summary is based on the bill title, subject list, and procedural metadata; it describes the bill’s evident purpose, the policy areas it likely addresses, who would be affected, and the bill’s legislative status. For precise operative language, consult the official bill text at the Legislative Commissioners’ Office or the General Assembly bill page (File No. 769).
Main purpose and intent
By title, HB 7135 concerns the provision of reproductive and gender-affirming health care services to patients. The bill likely seeks to clarify rights, responsibilities, or protections relating to the delivery, confidentiality, consent, or legal process surrounding reproductive care (e.g., abortion, contraception, pregnancy-related care) and gender-affirming medical services (e.g., hormone therapy, surgeries).
Key topics the bill addresses (based on subjects listed)
- Patient access to reproductive and gender-affirming health care
- Role and authority of guardians, conservators, and parent/ward consent for such care
- Health care provider obligations and protections (licensure, professional standards, immunity)
- Medical records, confidentiality, and limits on disclosure
- Use of subpoenas and potential limits on compelled disclosure of records or testimony
- Possible involvement of the Attorney General in enforcement or defense
Because the bill’s text is unavailable here, the specific changes (new rights, prohibitions, procedure changes, or penalties) cannot be enumerated.
Who or what would be affected
- Patients seeking reproductive or gender-affirming services (including minors if the bill addresses consent)
- Health care providers and clinics that deliver these services
- Guardians, conservators, and parents/wards when consent or decision-making authority is implicated
- Courts, subpoenas, and agencies (if the bill limits or defines disclosure of records)
- Attorney General’s office if the bill assigns enforcement or defense duties
Procedural status and timeline
- Introduced 3/3/2025; public hearing 3/24/2025.
- Joint Favorable Substitute filed 4/4/2025.
- Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 4/17/2025.
- Reported out of LCO and favorably reported; placed on House calendar (File No. 769) 4/24/2025 (House Calendar No. 482).
Next steps would typically include House consideration and, if passed, transmission to the Senate.
Potential impacts and considerations
- Access: could expand or protect access to reproductive and gender-affirming care or, alternatively, impose new limits depending on language.
- Confidentiality: may strengthen privacy protections for medical records or limit subpoena use.
- Consent/guardianship: may change when minors or wards may obtain care without guardian consent.
- Legal exposure: may create provider immunities or new liabilities; may involve the Attorney General in enforcement or defense of providers.
Fiscal impacts, enforceability, and legal interactions (e.g., with federal law) would depend on the precise statutory language and were likely evaluated by OFA/OLR.
Where to find the bill text and analyses
- Legislative Commissioners’ Office / General Assembly bill website (File No. 769) for the full text and amendments.
- Office of Legislative Research (OLR) and Office of Fiscal Analysis (OFA) for legal and fiscal analyses once posted.
Contact your legislator or the committee staff for briefings or the enacted language if you need definitive, actionable details.
