COLUMBUS, Ohio — During a press conference Friday, Gov. Mike DeWine signed an executive order banning gender transition surgeries for anyone under the age of 18 at any hospital or ambulatory surgical facility in Ohio.

The executive order follows the governor's veto of House Bill 68 last week, a measure which would have banned gender transition treatment for minors and transgender athletes’ participation in girls and women’s sports. GOP lawmakers have enough seats to overrule the veto.

"Although I vetoed Substitute House Bill 68, I stated clearly in my Veto Message that I agreed with the General Assembly that no gender transition surgeries should be performed on anyone under the age of 18 and I directed agencies under my purview to draft rules to ban this practice in Ohio," said DeWine's order.

DeWine said he believed there were administrative actions that could address the main concerns of the bill and announced a three-prong approach when he vetoed the bill.

He is directing agencies to ban surgery on those under 18 as part of gender transition treatment. He said he believes it’s a “fallacy out there that this goes right to surgery.”

He agreed with the legislature that there was no comprehensive data on those who receive gender transition treatment, and will direct relevant agencies to report findings to the legislature and public about minors and adults seeking care.

Lastly, DeWine said his administration will draft rules and restrictions to prevent “pop up clinics or fly by night operations” so families receive “adequate counseling” regarding gender transition treatment.

DeWine’s veto departed from a nationwide trend toward passing such laws. Since 2021, more than 20 states have enacted laws restricting or banning such treatments, despite them having been available in the United States for more than a decade and long endorsed by major medical associations. Most of those states face lawsuits, but courts have issued mixed rulings.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.