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Conversion Therapy Laws by State: The 2026 Update
Twenty-two states and Washington, D.C. fully bar licensed providers from subjecting minors to conversion therapy. A handful of other states restrict it partway, and the rest have no law.
As of 2026, 22 states and Washington, D.C. fully prohibit licensed mental health providers from putting minors through conversion therapy, and several more states limit it partially. The rest have no state law. That map held steady even after the Supreme Court's March 2026 decision in Chiles v. Salazar. The Court did not strike down these bans nationwide, and it did not call the practice safe or effective. It ruled only that Colorado's ban, as written, likely crossed a free speech line, then sent the case back to a lower court. For a Christian parent, the takeaway is simpler than the legal fight sounds: in most states that had a ban, the protection for kids still stands.
Quick Takeaways
Twenty-two states and Washington, D.C. fully bar licensed providers from subjecting minors to conversion therapy. A handful of other states restrict it partway, and the rest have no law.
The March 2026 Supreme Court ruling in Chiles v. Salazar did not end these bans. It found Colorado's law likely violated free speech and returned the case to a lower court.
The Court did not rule the practice safe, effective, or legal everywhere, and the medical consensus against it did not change.
Colorado answered by rewriting its protection to be viewpoint neutral and by letting harmed families sue for malpractice with no filing deadline.
Families still have real tools: state bans, malpractice claims, and licensing complaints. The label a provider uses does not decide whether a family can hold them accountable.
Where Things Stand State by State
The national picture in 2026 falls into a few clear groups. Twenty-two states and Washington, D.C. fully prohibit licensed providers from practicing conversion therapy on anyone under 18. A smaller group restricts it partway. Roughly 17 states have no protection at all, and a few of those go further by blocking cities and counties from passing local rules of their own. The most recent states to add protections did so in 2024. CT4F keeps a plain-language guide to conversion therapy laws by state that tracks the current status.
What Chiles v. Salazar Did and Did Not Do
In March 2026, the Supreme Court ruled 8 to 1 in Chiles v. Salazar that Colorado's ban likely violated the First Amendment when the counseling happens through talk alone. Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote the majority opinion, treating the ban as a limit on a provider's speech rather than on medical conduct, and the case went back to a lower court. It is easy to read that as the end of every ban. It was not. The ruling did not declare conversion therapy safe, effective, or legal across the country. Major medical associations still oppose the practice, and malpractice and consumer fraud claims remain fully intact. CT4F's breakdown of the Chiles v. Salazar ruling walks through what the decision settled and what it left open.
Colorado's Rewrite May Preview What Other States Do
Colorado did not walk away from protecting kids. It rewrote the rule to apply evenly. Under the new approach, a licensed provider cannot push a minor toward any predetermined outcome about how they see themselves or who they are attracted to, in either direction. Then, on June 1, 2026, the governor signed a separate law letting harmed families bring a malpractice claim with no filing deadline. Other states with bans are expected to revise their wording the same way. The point is not politics. It is keeping a paid professional from selling a family a result that no counselor can deliver.
What This Means for Christian Parents
Families, not doctors, are best placed to know what helps a child flourish. Whether a program is called conversion therapy or something softer, one built around changing a child through pressure or shame tends to produce guilt, self-hatred, anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts and behavior, and it pulls a family apart rather than holding it together. Those documented risks and harms are why the protection exists in the first place. Genuine faith-focused counseling supports your child and your whole household without treating a person's core self as a problem to fix. Before agreeing to any counseling, ask the provider plainly what their goal is, and trust your own discernment over a confident label.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many states ban conversion therapy in 2026? Twenty-two states and Washington, D.C. fully prohibit licensed providers from practicing it on minors. Several more states restrict it partially, and the rest have no state law addressing it.
Did the Supreme Court make conversion therapy legal everywhere? No. In Chiles v. Salazar, the Court found Colorado's ban likely violated free speech and sent the case back for review. It did not legalize the practice nationwide or overturn other states' protections.
Where is conversion therapy banned near me? It depends on your state. The clearest way to check is a current state-by-state guide, as some states protect kids only partway.
Is conversion therapy legal if my state has no ban? A missing ban does not make a provider untouchable. Families can still pursue malpractice and consumer fraud claims against one who promised a result the evidence does not support.
What are Christian alternatives to conversion therapy? Faith-focused family counseling, pastoral support, and honest conversation grounded in Scripture help a family navigate hard questions together, without promising an outcome no counselor can guarantee.
Sources and Further Reading
The State-by-State Landscape
Conversion Therapy Laws -- Movement Advancement Project -- The current national tally of full bans, partial restrictions, and states with no protections, updated throughout 2026.
Map Shows States Where Conversion Therapy Is Banned for Minors -- Newsweek -- A visual state-by-state snapshot for families who want a quick reference.
The Ruling and Colorado's Response
Official Opinion in Chiles v. Salazar, No. 24-539 -- Supreme Court of the United States -- The full text of the March 2026 ruling, including the majority opinion and dissent.
Supreme Court Rules Against Ban on Conversion Therapy for Minors -- The Washington Post -- A plain-language account of what the ruling does and does not settle.
Colorado Passes New Law to Protect Against Harms of Conversion Therapy -- The Trevor Project -- How Colorado rewrote its protections after the decision.
Jared Polis Signs Conversion Therapy Malpractice Bill in Colorado -- Metro Weekly -- The June 2026 law removing the filing deadline for harmed families.
CT4F Resources for Families
Conversion Therapy Laws by State -- Conversion Truth for Families -- Where licensed providers are currently restricted, state by state.
Chiles v. Salazar Ruling Explained -- Conversion Truth for Families -- CT4F's full breakdown of the Supreme Court decision.
Conversion Therapy Explained -- Conversion Truth for Families -- A plain-language definition and the names the practice has gone by.
Risks and Harms of Conversion Therapy -- Conversion Truth for Families -- A closer look at the documented harms families should know about.
Why Do Major Medical Associations Oppose Conversion Therapy -- Conversion Truth for Families -- Why the mainstream medical and psychological establishment rejects the practice.
Publicaciones recientes
Conversion Therapy Laws by State: The 2026 Update
Twenty-two states and Washington, D.C. fully bar licensed providers from subjecting minors to conversion therapy. A handful of other states restrict it partway, and the rest have no law.
As of 2026, 22 states and Washington, D.C. fully prohibit licensed mental health providers from putting minors through conversion therapy, and several more states limit it partially. The rest have no state law. That map held steady even after the Supreme Court's March 2026 decision in Chiles v. Salazar. The Court did not strike down these bans nationwide, and it did not call the practice safe or effective. It ruled only that Colorado's ban, as written, likely crossed a free speech line, then sent the case back to a lower court. For a Christian parent, the takeaway is simpler than the legal fight sounds: in most states that had a ban, the protection for kids still stands.
Quick Takeaways
Twenty-two states and Washington, D.C. fully bar licensed providers from subjecting minors to conversion therapy. A handful of other states restrict it partway, and the rest have no law.
The March 2026 Supreme Court ruling in Chiles v. Salazar did not end these bans. It found Colorado's law likely violated free speech and returned the case to a lower court.
The Court did not rule the practice safe, effective, or legal everywhere, and the medical consensus against it did not change.
Colorado answered by rewriting its protection to be viewpoint neutral and by letting harmed families sue for malpractice with no filing deadline.
Families still have real tools: state bans, malpractice claims, and licensing complaints. The label a provider uses does not decide whether a family can hold them accountable.
Where Things Stand State by State
The national picture in 2026 falls into a few clear groups. Twenty-two states and Washington, D.C. fully prohibit licensed providers from practicing conversion therapy on anyone under 18. A smaller group restricts it partway. Roughly 17 states have no protection at all, and a few of those go further by blocking cities and counties from passing local rules of their own. The most recent states to add protections did so in 2024. CT4F keeps a plain-language guide to conversion therapy laws by state that tracks the current status.
What Chiles v. Salazar Did and Did Not Do
In March 2026, the Supreme Court ruled 8 to 1 in Chiles v. Salazar that Colorado's ban likely violated the First Amendment when the counseling happens through talk alone. Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote the majority opinion, treating the ban as a limit on a provider's speech rather than on medical conduct, and the case went back to a lower court. It is easy to read that as the end of every ban. It was not. The ruling did not declare conversion therapy safe, effective, or legal across the country. Major medical associations still oppose the practice, and malpractice and consumer fraud claims remain fully intact. CT4F's breakdown of the Chiles v. Salazar ruling walks through what the decision settled and what it left open.
Colorado's Rewrite May Preview What Other States Do
Colorado did not walk away from protecting kids. It rewrote the rule to apply evenly. Under the new approach, a licensed provider cannot push a minor toward any predetermined outcome about how they see themselves or who they are attracted to, in either direction. Then, on June 1, 2026, the governor signed a separate law letting harmed families bring a malpractice claim with no filing deadline. Other states with bans are expected to revise their wording the same way. The point is not politics. It is keeping a paid professional from selling a family a result that no counselor can deliver.
What This Means for Christian Parents
Families, not doctors, are best placed to know what helps a child flourish. Whether a program is called conversion therapy or something softer, one built around changing a child through pressure or shame tends to produce guilt, self-hatred, anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts and behavior, and it pulls a family apart rather than holding it together. Those documented risks and harms are why the protection exists in the first place. Genuine faith-focused counseling supports your child and your whole household without treating a person's core self as a problem to fix. Before agreeing to any counseling, ask the provider plainly what their goal is, and trust your own discernment over a confident label.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many states ban conversion therapy in 2026? Twenty-two states and Washington, D.C. fully prohibit licensed providers from practicing it on minors. Several more states restrict it partially, and the rest have no state law addressing it.
Did the Supreme Court make conversion therapy legal everywhere? No. In Chiles v. Salazar, the Court found Colorado's ban likely violated free speech and sent the case back for review. It did not legalize the practice nationwide or overturn other states' protections.
Where is conversion therapy banned near me? It depends on your state. The clearest way to check is a current state-by-state guide, as some states protect kids only partway.
Is conversion therapy legal if my state has no ban? A missing ban does not make a provider untouchable. Families can still pursue malpractice and consumer fraud claims against one who promised a result the evidence does not support.
What are Christian alternatives to conversion therapy? Faith-focused family counseling, pastoral support, and honest conversation grounded in Scripture help a family navigate hard questions together, without promising an outcome no counselor can guarantee.
Sources and Further Reading
The State-by-State Landscape
Conversion Therapy Laws -- Movement Advancement Project -- The current national tally of full bans, partial restrictions, and states with no protections, updated throughout 2026.
Map Shows States Where Conversion Therapy Is Banned for Minors -- Newsweek -- A visual state-by-state snapshot for families who want a quick reference.
The Ruling and Colorado's Response
Official Opinion in Chiles v. Salazar, No. 24-539 -- Supreme Court of the United States -- The full text of the March 2026 ruling, including the majority opinion and dissent.
Supreme Court Rules Against Ban on Conversion Therapy for Minors -- The Washington Post -- A plain-language account of what the ruling does and does not settle.
Colorado Passes New Law to Protect Against Harms of Conversion Therapy -- The Trevor Project -- How Colorado rewrote its protections after the decision.
Jared Polis Signs Conversion Therapy Malpractice Bill in Colorado -- Metro Weekly -- The June 2026 law removing the filing deadline for harmed families.
CT4F Resources for Families
Conversion Therapy Laws by State -- Conversion Truth for Families -- Where licensed providers are currently restricted, state by state.
Chiles v. Salazar Ruling Explained -- Conversion Truth for Families -- CT4F's full breakdown of the Supreme Court decision.
Conversion Therapy Explained -- Conversion Truth for Families -- A plain-language definition and the names the practice has gone by.
Risks and Harms of Conversion Therapy -- Conversion Truth for Families -- A closer look at the documented harms families should know about.
Why Do Major Medical Associations Oppose Conversion Therapy -- Conversion Truth for Families -- Why the mainstream medical and psychological establishment rejects the practice.
Publicaciones recientes
Conversion Therapy Laws by State: The 2026 Update
Twenty-two states and Washington, D.C. fully bar licensed providers from subjecting minors to conversion therapy. A handful of other states restrict it partway, and the rest have no law.
As of 2026, 22 states and Washington, D.C. fully prohibit licensed mental health providers from putting minors through conversion therapy, and several more states limit it partially. The rest have no state law. That map held steady even after the Supreme Court's March 2026 decision in Chiles v. Salazar. The Court did not strike down these bans nationwide, and it did not call the practice safe or effective. It ruled only that Colorado's ban, as written, likely crossed a free speech line, then sent the case back to a lower court. For a Christian parent, the takeaway is simpler than the legal fight sounds: in most states that had a ban, the protection for kids still stands.
Quick Takeaways
Twenty-two states and Washington, D.C. fully bar licensed providers from subjecting minors to conversion therapy. A handful of other states restrict it partway, and the rest have no law.
The March 2026 Supreme Court ruling in Chiles v. Salazar did not end these bans. It found Colorado's law likely violated free speech and returned the case to a lower court.
The Court did not rule the practice safe, effective, or legal everywhere, and the medical consensus against it did not change.
Colorado answered by rewriting its protection to be viewpoint neutral and by letting harmed families sue for malpractice with no filing deadline.
Families still have real tools: state bans, malpractice claims, and licensing complaints. The label a provider uses does not decide whether a family can hold them accountable.
Where Things Stand State by State
The national picture in 2026 falls into a few clear groups. Twenty-two states and Washington, D.C. fully prohibit licensed providers from practicing conversion therapy on anyone under 18. A smaller group restricts it partway. Roughly 17 states have no protection at all, and a few of those go further by blocking cities and counties from passing local rules of their own. The most recent states to add protections did so in 2024. CT4F keeps a plain-language guide to conversion therapy laws by state that tracks the current status.
What Chiles v. Salazar Did and Did Not Do
In March 2026, the Supreme Court ruled 8 to 1 in Chiles v. Salazar that Colorado's ban likely violated the First Amendment when the counseling happens through talk alone. Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote the majority opinion, treating the ban as a limit on a provider's speech rather than on medical conduct, and the case went back to a lower court. It is easy to read that as the end of every ban. It was not. The ruling did not declare conversion therapy safe, effective, or legal across the country. Major medical associations still oppose the practice, and malpractice and consumer fraud claims remain fully intact. CT4F's breakdown of the Chiles v. Salazar ruling walks through what the decision settled and what it left open.
Colorado's Rewrite May Preview What Other States Do
Colorado did not walk away from protecting kids. It rewrote the rule to apply evenly. Under the new approach, a licensed provider cannot push a minor toward any predetermined outcome about how they see themselves or who they are attracted to, in either direction. Then, on June 1, 2026, the governor signed a separate law letting harmed families bring a malpractice claim with no filing deadline. Other states with bans are expected to revise their wording the same way. The point is not politics. It is keeping a paid professional from selling a family a result that no counselor can deliver.
What This Means for Christian Parents
Families, not doctors, are best placed to know what helps a child flourish. Whether a program is called conversion therapy or something softer, one built around changing a child through pressure or shame tends to produce guilt, self-hatred, anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts and behavior, and it pulls a family apart rather than holding it together. Those documented risks and harms are why the protection exists in the first place. Genuine faith-focused counseling supports your child and your whole household without treating a person's core self as a problem to fix. Before agreeing to any counseling, ask the provider plainly what their goal is, and trust your own discernment over a confident label.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many states ban conversion therapy in 2026? Twenty-two states and Washington, D.C. fully prohibit licensed providers from practicing it on minors. Several more states restrict it partially, and the rest have no state law addressing it.
Did the Supreme Court make conversion therapy legal everywhere? No. In Chiles v. Salazar, the Court found Colorado's ban likely violated free speech and sent the case back for review. It did not legalize the practice nationwide or overturn other states' protections.
Where is conversion therapy banned near me? It depends on your state. The clearest way to check is a current state-by-state guide, as some states protect kids only partway.
Is conversion therapy legal if my state has no ban? A missing ban does not make a provider untouchable. Families can still pursue malpractice and consumer fraud claims against one who promised a result the evidence does not support.
What are Christian alternatives to conversion therapy? Faith-focused family counseling, pastoral support, and honest conversation grounded in Scripture help a family navigate hard questions together, without promising an outcome no counselor can guarantee.
Sources and Further Reading
The State-by-State Landscape
Conversion Therapy Laws -- Movement Advancement Project -- The current national tally of full bans, partial restrictions, and states with no protections, updated throughout 2026.
Map Shows States Where Conversion Therapy Is Banned for Minors -- Newsweek -- A visual state-by-state snapshot for families who want a quick reference.
The Ruling and Colorado's Response
Official Opinion in Chiles v. Salazar, No. 24-539 -- Supreme Court of the United States -- The full text of the March 2026 ruling, including the majority opinion and dissent.
Supreme Court Rules Against Ban on Conversion Therapy for Minors -- The Washington Post -- A plain-language account of what the ruling does and does not settle.
Colorado Passes New Law to Protect Against Harms of Conversion Therapy -- The Trevor Project -- How Colorado rewrote its protections after the decision.
Jared Polis Signs Conversion Therapy Malpractice Bill in Colorado -- Metro Weekly -- The June 2026 law removing the filing deadline for harmed families.
CT4F Resources for Families
Conversion Therapy Laws by State -- Conversion Truth for Families -- Where licensed providers are currently restricted, state by state.
Chiles v. Salazar Ruling Explained -- Conversion Truth for Families -- CT4F's full breakdown of the Supreme Court decision.
Conversion Therapy Explained -- Conversion Truth for Families -- A plain-language definition and the names the practice has gone by.
Risks and Harms of Conversion Therapy -- Conversion Truth for Families -- A closer look at the documented harms families should know about.
Why Do Major Medical Associations Oppose Conversion Therapy -- Conversion Truth for Families -- Why the mainstream medical and psychological establishment rejects the practice.