federal Judge Blocks Iowa Law Limiting Gender-Affirming Care for Minors
Des Moines, Iowa – On January 30, 2026, U.S. District Judge Sarah Henderson blocked a 2024 Iowa law that restricted gender-affirming care for transgender minors. The law, Senate File 548, prohibited puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgeries for individuals under 18. Henderson issued a preliminary injunction, preventing the state from enforcing the ban while a lawsuit challenging its constitutionality proceeds.
The lawsuit was filed in March 2024 by parents of transgender children and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Iowa. Plaintiffs argued the law violated the Equal Protection Clause and Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, as well as parental rights. Judge Henderson agreed, stating in her 49-page ruling that the law likely infringes upon these constitutional rights.
Senate File 548 passed the Iowa legislature on March 22,2024,with a vote of 31-28 in the Senate and 52-41 in the House.Governor Kim Reynolds signed the bill into law on March 29, 2024. The law carried potential criminal penalties for healthcare providers who violated the restrictions.
The ACLU of Iowa released a statement praising the judgeS decision. ”This is a monumental victory for transgender youth in Iowa and their families,” said ACLU of Iowa Executive Director, Rita Bettis Austen.”The court recognized the immense harm this discriminatory law inflicted.”
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird indicated the state will appeal the ruling. “We are disappointed with the court’s decision and will vigorously defend Iowa’s right to protect children from irreversible medical procedures,” Bird stated in a press release issued January 30, 2026.
Similar laws restricting gender-affirming care have been enacted in other states, including Alabama, Arkansas, and Florida, and have faced legal challenges. as of January 30, 2026, several of these laws are subject to ongoing litigation.
