What does Preamble of HR 7651 do?

This bill aims to provide a private right of action for children and their parents. The private right of action pertains to situations where a child's healthy body parts have been damaged. The damage must result from medical professionals practicing or participating in certain interventions.

What does SHORT TITLE. of HR 7651 do?

This bill is formally titled the Chloe Cole Act of 2026.

What does DEFINITIONS. of HR 7651 do?

This section defines key terms used throughout the Act. “Child” is defined as an individual under 18 years of age. “Covered intervention” refers to interventions intended to delay puberty or alter an individual's body to no longer correspond to their sex, including puberty blockers, sex hormones, and surgical procedures. Certain medical treatments are excluded from the definition of “covered intervention,” such as those treating disorders of sexual development or infections caused by interventions. “Detransition treatment” means any treatment that stops, reverses, or aids in recovery from the effects of a prior covered intervention. “Health care professional” is defined as someone licensed to administer healthcare. “Participate” means directly engaging in the planning, authorization, prescription, administration, or performance of a covered intervention. “Sex” is defined as an immutable biological classification determined at conception, based on reproductive systems. The definition of 'female' specifies individuals with reproductive systems that produce ova, while 'male' refers to those with systems that produce sperm.

What does PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION. of HR 7651 do?

This section establishes a private right of action allowing individuals who were children subjected to a covered intervention, or their parents/legal guardians, to bring a civil action in federal district court for damages. Damages may include compensatory damages (economic and non-economic), and punitive damages if malicious, intentional, fraudulent, or reckless conduct is proven by clear and convincing evidence. Healthcare professionals, hospitals, or clinics are strictly liable for covered interventions on children after the date of enactment, unless an exception specified in section 2(2)(B) applies, in which case they bear the burden of proving the exception. Interstate commerce jurisdiction is established through several circumstances, including travel, payments, communications, use of objects in commerce, location of the intervention, or if the intervention otherwise affects interstate or foreign commerce.

What does RULES OF CONSTRUCTION. of HR 7651 do?

This section outlines rules of construction for the Act. Liability for health care professionals under these provisions cannot be waived. Ambiguities are to be resolved against parties who participated in a covered intervention on a child. Regarding standards of care, limited deference is given to prevailing standards if they contradict the Act's intent and a health care professional knew or should have known of scientific or medical dispute. Health care professionals are not prohibited from providing information about treatment options, discussing risks and benefits, or expressing medical opinions, provided these actions do not constitute participation in a covered intervention.

What does STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS. of HR 7651 do?

This section establishes a statute of limitations for actions under section 3. Actions may be brought within 25 years from the date of an individual's eighteenth birthday if they were subjected to a covered intervention as a child. Alternatively, actions may be brought within 4 years from the time the cost of a detransition treatment is incurred. The later of these two dates determines the applicable statute of limitations.

What does SEVERABILITY. of HR 7651 do?

This section establishes a severability clause for the Act. If a portion of the Act is deemed unconstitutional, the remaining provisions remain in effect. The application of a provision to specific individuals or situations can also be affected separately.

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Chloe Cole Act of 2026 — HR. 7651

Last updated: 2/23/2026 · Introduced: 2/23/2026

Author: Robert Onder (R-MO)

TL;DR (AI)

The Chloe Cole Act of 2026 establishes a private right of action allowing individuals who were children subjected to interventions that delay puberty or alter their body to correspond to a different sex, or their parents, to sue for damages in federal court.
Healthcare professionals, hospitals, and clinics are strictly liable for covered interventions on children unless an exception applies, and may be subject to compensatory and punitive damages.
The Act sets a statute of limitations of 25 years from the individual’s 18th birthday or 4 years from the cost of detransition treatment, whichever is later, for filing lawsuits.

119th Congressin committeeOfficial page

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Includes provisions on preamble, short title., and 5 more.

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