Senate Overrides Governor's Veto on Biological Sex Bathroom Bill
Contentious measure clears hurdle with 31-9 vote
The Kansas Senate voted 31-9 on Thursday to override Gov. Laura Kelly's veto of H Sub SB 244, a sweeping measure that defines biological sex for purposes of state law and restricts access to multiple-occupancy private spaces such as restrooms and locker rooms. The override, which required a two-thirds supermajority, sailed past the threshold with votes to spare, capping one of the most politically charged battles of the 2025 session.
Senate President Ty Masterson released a statement Tuesday, responding to the Senate overriding Governor Laura Kelly’s veto of SB 244, the “bathroom bill.”
“Today the Kansas Senate restored sanity and overrode Laura Kelly’s dangerous veto of SB 244 that would have forced our mothers, sisters, wives, and daughters to share their bathrooms with biological men in government buildings. Kansas Democrats are for They/Them. I will continue to fight for you, and protect women and girls across our state.”
The bill has drawn national attention as part of a wave of Republican-led legislation across the country targeting transgender individuals' access to facilities consistent with their gender identity. Gov. Kelly, a Democrat, had vetoed the measure, but the legislature's Republican supermajorities can enact it over her objections.
Sen. Dinah Sykes, D-Lenexa, called the measure a product of a "culture war," arguing it makes Kansas less attractive to businesses and could jeopardize the economic impact of the state's role in hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup in just over 100 days.
The 31-9 vote margin suggests minimal Republican defections in the 40-member Senate, where the GOP holds 31 seats. The bill's passage into law marks a significant political victory for conservative lawmakers and advocacy groups who have made the issue a legislative priority, while opponents have warned it could expose the state to legal challenges and harm transgender Kansans.