Republican lawmakers in Kansas have overridden Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto of a sweeping bathroom bill, cementing new restrictions on transgender residents into state law.
The House voted 87-37 on Wednesday to override the governor, a day after the Senate did the same. With the supermajority action complete, the measure takes effect upon filing with the secretary of state.
The new law requires public buildings, including schools and state universities, to separate restrooms and locker rooms by sex assigned at birth. It also bars Kansans from changing the gender marker on state-issued driver’s licenses and birth certificates, a longtime goal of Republican Attorney General Kris Kobach. Previously updated documents will be invalidated.
Under the measure, individuals accused of repeatedly using facilities that do not align with their birth sex could face a $1,000 fine and potential criminal charges.
A Swift Override
The veto fight moved quickly. Senate Republicans advanced the override Tuesday, and the House followed the next day. One Republican, Rep. Mark Schreiber, joined Democrats in opposing the bill.
Kelly criticized the legislation as costly and unnecessary.
“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,” she said in a statement after the override.
Republican leaders framed the law as a matter of privacy. GOP Sen. Kellie Warren said the change responds to concerns about expectations in intimate spaces, particularly for students. House Speaker Dan Hawkins echoed that message, saying the bill provides clarity and safeguards for women and girls.
Heated Debate, Limited Floor Time
Floor debate in the House was cut short after a motion to end discussion passed, prompting frustration from Democrats who said the process sidelined dissenting voices.
Rep. Abi Boatman, a transgender lawmaker from Wichita, called the measure discriminatory and warned it would make daily life harder for trans Kansans.
Rep. Heather Meyer, an Overland Park Democrat, said the bill “paints a bullseye” on trans colleagues. Others questioned the absence of data showing increased safety concerns in restrooms.
Democratic Sen. Cindy Holscher challenged supporters to provide evidence that the policy would prevent harm. “What I hear as a response are a lot of words but not actually any numbers,” she said during debate in the Senate.
Outside the chamber, advocacy groups including the ACLU of Kansas and Equality Kansas condemned the override, arguing the statute invites government overreach and targets an already marginalized community.
Economic Concerns and World Cup Spotlight
Some Democrats warned the legislation could undercut business recruitment and tourism efforts. Lawmakers pointed to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with matches and team activities planned in the Kansas City region. Sen. Pat Pettey said Kansas risks sending the wrong signal at a moment when international attention is headed to the area.
Supporters dismissed the economic argument, saying the issue centers on policy, not profit.
What the Law Allows
The statute includes limited exceptions. Children under eight may enter an opposite-sex restroom if accompanied by a caregiver. Coaches can access opposite-sex locker rooms if all individuals are clothed.
Kansas now joins roughly 20 states with laws restricting bathroom access based on sex assigned at birth in certain public settings. The measure’s immediate implementation sets the stage for potential legal challenges, as civil rights organizations weigh next steps.
For transgender Kansans, the override marks a significant shift in state policy, one that will shape daily routines, legal documents and public life moving forward.
