Update: The Senate just passed the Governor’s proposed new version by a vote of 31 to 19.
Montana Governor Greg Gianforte has issued an amendatory veto for SB 99.
The bill bans permanently disfiguring hormonal drugs and surgeries for minors.
An amendatory veto is a power granted to the Governor to propose specific changes to a bill passed by the legislature, which must then be approved by both the House of Representatives and the Senate to become law. This allows the Governor to veto specific parts of a bill while still allowing the rest to become law, rather than outright rejecting the entire bill.
However, the Governor’s amendatory veto can be overridden by two-thirds of each chamber.
SB 99 was passed by the House by 65 to 34 and the Senate by 32 to 17. This means that they theoretically have enough votes to override the Governor’s veto.
Greg Gianforte says he sent the bill back because there are inadequate exceptions for people with legitimate birth defects.
The state legislature has not posted anything online concerning the text of the Governor’s amendments.
Two other Governors have also vetoed bills against child transsexual drugs/procedures. Both were overridden, and the bills became law anyway.
First was Asa Hutchinson, the former Republican Governor of Arkansas. Next was Andy Beshear, the Democrat governor of Kentucky.
