COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio House of Representatives overrode Gov. Mike DeWine's veto on the SAFE Act.

It’s a bill that would ban doctors from performing gender transition care on minors. House Bill 68 also aims to ban transgender athletes from competitively competing on women’s sports teams. Lawmakers in the House chamber voted 65-28 to override the veto. 

What You Need To Know

  • The Ohio House has voted to override Gov. Mike DeWine’s veto of the SAFE Act with a 65-28 vote

  • The SAFE Act would ban gender transition treatment for minors and stop transgender athletes from competing in girls’ and women’s sports

  • The fate of the legislation now rests in the hands of the Senate.

“I continue to believe it is in the best interests of children for these medical decisions to be made by the child’s parents and not by the government,” DeWine said in a statement regarding the override of his veto. 

House Speaker Jason Stephen believes the override was needed. In his opinion, the SAFE Act aims to protect children and minors. Republican State Representative Gary Click calls the override “a win” for the Buckeye State.

“I’ve said it before. I believe this bill is about protecting children,” said Stephens. “It’s also empowering families. It empowers parents, and I just truly believe in, and also, there’s good people on both sides of the aisle who see the approach differently, and that’s okay. We are always open for discussion.” 

House Democrats said they are disappointed in the way the legislature handled the situation, and overrode the veto. They said it could be unfair to Ohioans, and could cause a ripple effect of people fleeing the state to seek gender transition care. House Minority Leader Allison Russo says she is worried for the future of Ohio. 

“We’ve got families who are literally making decisions about whether or not to stay in the state, and fleeing the state to get the care that they desperately want for their children. And for trans-individuals, I think, feeling that they don’t have dignity. And what I have said to them is do not give up hope. There are people who value them as individuals,” said Russo. 

The bill needs to head back to the Ohio Senate, and the majority’s spokesman said they also plan to override the veto on Jan. 24.

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