House Agrees to Senate Changes of SAFE Act, Richardson Supports

COLUMBUS – The Ohio House agreed to Senate changes to the Save Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act and the Save Women’s Sports Act, which State Representative Tracy Richardson (R-Marysville) voted in favor of Wednesday.

The legislation will now allow children that are currently taking hormone therapy treatments to continue to do so, if the treatments are prescribed by an Ohio doctor. The SAFE Act now only requires the consent of one parent or guardian, reduced from requiring consent from both parents, for a child to begin mental health treatment. 

No changes were made to the Save Women’s Sports Act.

“Sometimes we have to agree to changes made by the Senate in order to get legislation into law for the good of the people,” said Richardson. “I supported the amendments to make sure these important bills get to the desk of the Governor for signature. We took a big step today toward protecting children and creating fair competition for women”

The SAFE Act will prevent medical professionals from performing experimental medicalized treatments like surgeries, prescriptions of puberty blocking drugs and cross-sex hormones to anyone under the age of 18. 

Added to the legislation during the committee process, the Save Women’s Sports Act also passed through the house as a part of the SAFE Act vote. The legislation will ensure biological males cannot compete in female-only sports in Ohio. 

The legislation will now head to the governor’s office for his consideration.