Kansas Legislature Overrides Governor Kelly's Veto on Biological Sex Bill

TOPEKA — The Kansas House voted 87-37 on Wednesday to override Gov. Laura Kelly's veto of H Sub for SB 244, a sweeping bill that requires multiple-occupancy restrooms, locker rooms and similar spaces in public buildings to be designated for use by one sex. The bill also redefines "gender" as biological sex at birth for purposes of Kansas law and directs the Division of Vehicles and the Office of Vital Statistics to invalidate and reissue driver's licenses and birth certificates to match sex assigned at birth.

The vote fell precisely along party lines, with all 87 Republicans present voting to override and all 37 Democrats voting to sustain the veto. A two-thirds majority of the 125-member House was required.

Rep. Brandon Woodard, D-Lenexa, the House minority leader and an openly gay lawmaker, called the bill "poorly-written, rushed, and repugnant," warning it would prevent male family members from visiting female relatives in nursing homes and hospital rooms. Rep. Nikki McDonald, D-Wichita, accused the majority of "silencing" the 900,000 Kansans represented by Democrats. Rep. Lindsay Vaughn, D-Overland Park, said, "To trans Kansans — we see you. You belong here." The following statement was released by Governor Kelly:

“It is nothing short of ridiculous that the Legislature is forcing the entire state, every city and town, every school district, every public university to spend taxpayer money on a manufactured problem. Kansans elected them to focus on education, job creation, housing, and grocery costs.”

Republicans pushed back. Rep. Paul Waggoner, R-Hutchinson, called the override a vote for "the self-evident truth that biology is real," adding that the bill "does not discriminate against anyone, it just properly organizes everyone. Kansas is one of several Republican-led states that have enacted restrictions on transgender individuals, reflecting a national GOP priority. Democrats have vowed to challenge the law in court.