In the current legislative session, the first bill about transgender kids Republican Rep. Mary Bentley tried to pass didn't live a day past the committee.

She pulled it after hearing testimony from Arkansas Assistant Attorney General Justin Brasher. He said, Rep. Bentley, we agree with you, but if the state gets sued, the AG'S office isn't going to bat over this one.

“We have facial constitutional concerns with this bill,” he said.

The problem with the initial draft of the bill, also called the Vulnerable Youth Protection Act, is that it was too broad. Draft one could have encompassed speech protected in the Constitution: the right to cut your hair the way you want to, the right to wear what you want, the right to be called the name of your choice.

Bill limiting care for trans minors moves through Arkansas Legislature

*John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate*
The Arkansas State Capitol in Little Rock.

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

A bill that would open up liability to Arkansans who assist in someone's "social transition" was pulled following debate in committee.

The bill to create “The Vulnerable Youth Protection Act” would give broad litigation rights to people seeking to sue those who provide minors with gender-affirming care. A person could seek up to $10 million in punitive damages for 15 years against anyone who assists in social transitioning. The bill would expand previous legislation making it easier to sue doctors who participate in the medical transition of a minor.

The bill met pushback in a meeting of the House Judiciary committee Tuesday over its definition of “social transitioning” as “changes in clothing, pronouns, hairstyle, and name,” meaning a person could possibly sue their barber or person who calls them by a nickname.

'Social transition' bill pulled amid First Amendment concerns