The 59-page ruling from district court Judge Jason Marks found that Senate Bill 99, backed by Republicans largely along party lines during the legislative session two years ago, violates the Montana Constitution’s rights to privacy, equal protection and free speech.
The law had been temporarily enjoined before it was scheduled to take effect. The Montana Supreme Court upheld that block in 2024.
The court found that plaintiffs, including transgender teen Phoebe Cross and other minor patients, their parents and medical providers, successfully presented evidence that the law undermines their constitutional rights by curbing access to medical treatments for gender dysphoria, such as puberty blockers and hormones.
Wow, you go Montana!
Privacy has been a big issue upheld by courts in Montana. Recently an anti-trans law failed because parents made a point to say they were losing the freedom to make decisions for their children. I don’t know where the republican brains went with that, but that law completely floundered when it came time to vote.
I judge the Gadsden flag when I see it on vehicles (MT is the only “northern” state that has a license plate with it), but people in Montana generally do care about privacy much more than than hurting the outgroup
Perhaps I’ll retire there as a dental floss tycoon. Sounds like a good place.