Washington conversion therapy ban in doubt after SCOTUS ruling

Catch up quick: A Washington law from 2018 allows the state to discipline or revoke the licenses of health care professionals who perform conversion therapy on minors.

• The law defines conversion therapy as treatments that seek to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity. It classifies the practice as unprofessional conduct.

The latest: Tuesday's U.S. Supreme Court ruling found that a similar ban in Colorado does not override the free speech protections of the First Amendment.

• The high court sided with a Christian counselor who argued Colorado's ban censored her for her viewpoints.

What they're saying: "We're still working to determine its impact on Washington law," Mike Faulk, a spokesperson for the state Attorney General's Office, told Axios on Wednesday.

• State Sen. Marko Liias (D-Edmonds) told Axios he thinks the high court "shouldn't have done this," but "we will work to make sure our policy goal is achieved nonetheless."

• "I suspect the courts will have to weigh in," said Liias, who was the prime sponsor of Washington's law.

The Washington Legislature's LGBTQ caucus said in a statement that "allowing conversion therapy to continue sends a clear message to every queer kid in this country: Your identity is unacceptable and you should seek to change it. But queer youth do not need to be changed."

What's next: The Supreme Court sent the Colorado case back to a lower court, where it must now be reconsidered under higher scrutiny.