Kansas Governor Laura Kelly recently vetoed the Republican-led bill aimed at banning gender-affirming care for minors, drawing sharp reactions from GOP leaders.
The bill, known as the Help Not Harm Act, seeks to restrict healthcare options for individuals under 18, including puberty blockers, hormones, and gender-affirming surgeries. Senate President Ty Masterson and House Speaker Dan Hawkins have expressed strong opposition to the veto, stating they are prepared to override it.
Governor Kelly argued that the legislature should focus on more pressing issues, such as rising prices for Kansans, and emphasized that healthcare decisions should remain between parents and medical professionals. She also warned that the legislation could drive families, businesses, and healthcare professionals out of Kansas.
Meanwhile, opponents of the veto, like Brittany Jones from Kansas Family Voice, insist the bill is necessary to prevent what they see as harmful medical procedures for children, framing it as within the legislature’s jurisdiction to regulate.
The bill passed both chambers with significant support, although the House vote was one short of the two-thirds majority needed to override Kelly’s veto without absentees.
Opponents have raised concerns about the bill’s constitutionality, referencing previous court rulings on bodily autonomy, while Democrats continue to voice their opposition, arguing it infringes on personal medical decisions.
This ongoing battle highlights the broader national debate over transgender rights, minors’ healthcare, and the role of state governments in regulating medical care.