HB 26-1322

HB 26-1322, also known as the "Civil Actions for Conversion Therapy Survivors" bill, allows individuals who have been harmed by conversion therapy to sue mental health professionals and others involved in these practices. This includes therapists, supervisors, or entities that hired them to perform such treatments targeting sexual orientation or gender identity. The law removes any time limit on when someone can file a lawsuit related to this issue, meaning survivors can seek compensation for economic, emotional, and punitive damages at any point after the therapy occurred. Since it has been signed into law, victims of conversion therapy now have legal recourse to hold those responsible accountable without worrying about timing restrictions.

Official Summary

The bill establishes a cause of action for claims of injury caused by sexual orientation or gender identity change efforts (efforts) against a mental health professional and allows the cause of action to be commenced at any time without limitation.     The bill applies to a cause of action brought against a licensed mental health professional who conducted the efforts; an individual or entity that hired, supervised, or otherwise exercised authority over the mental health professional; and a person who negligently hired, supervised, or retained a licensed mental health professional to engage in the efforts.     The bill permits the injured individual, or the individual's personal representative or estate if the individual is deceased, to be awarded economic, noneconomic, and exemplary damages and sets forth the manner in which causation may be established to show a connection between the efforts the individual underwent and the harm the individual suffers.     The bill states what an expert witness may address in the expert's testimony regarding the efforts the individual underwent and the harm the individual suffered.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

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