Idaho governor Brad Little signed two bills regarding transgender issues into law on Monday after they passed the state’s House and Senate.
One bill, House Bill 509, blocks individuals from changing the gender on their birth certificate to the gender they identify with.
The bill was promoted by the state’s Republican-dominated House and Senate.
The second bill, House Bill 500, also known as the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, effectively bars male-to-female (MTF) transgendered athletes from competing in women’s sports, and would apply to all sports teams sponsored by public schools, colleges, and universities.
The bills met with criticism from LGBTQ+ rights advocates, and progressive law firms and lawmakers.
Should the bills take effect on July 1, the Idaho branch of the increasingly-partisan American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) already announced it would launch a challenge in court.
The Idaho Attorney General’s Office said the law could open the state up to being liable for legal challenges.
