A controversial bill approved on June 24, 2025, aims to protect women and minors in pornography while introducing contentious measures regarding transgender rights, sparking dissent among Senate Democrats.

The legislation includes provisions that prohibit state-funded gender transition procedures for prisoners and require that a transgender person's new birth certificate be linked to their original one.

Despite potential opposition from Governor Stein, the bill is expected to pass into law due to strong Republican supermajority support in the House.

Senate Democratic Leader Sydney Batch criticized the bill's amendments, arguing they complicate efforts to address the original issue of sexual exploitation.

Sen. Julie Mayfield opposed the bill, stating it reflects an outdated perspective on gender in a rapidly evolving society.

The bill seeks to define 'male' and 'female' strictly based on biological criteria, a move opposed by experts who argue that biological sex is more complex.

Republican Senator Buck Newton defended the bill, claiming it addresses the perceived erasure of women from language concerning gender.

Supporters of the bill argue it protects taxpayer dollars and maintains eligibility for federal funding, while critics contend it complicates life for transgender individuals.

The ACLU of North Carolina has voiced opposition to the bill, arguing it infringes on children's First Amendment rights and contributes to the marginalization of transgender individuals.

The proposed legislation would also ban state funding for gender-affirming care for incarcerated individuals, affecting approximately 254 transgender inmates in North Carolina.

These legislative moves come in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court upholding Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for minors, reflecting a broader trend among GOP-controlled states to limit transgender rights.

The current bill is seen as an extension of previous legislation passed by North Carolina's GOP-dominated General Assembly, which has included bans on gender-affirming care for minors and restrictions on transgender athletes.