Kansas Legislature Overrides Governor’s Veto, Protects Women’s Privacy in Public Restrooms
The Kansas Legislature recently overrode Governor Laura Kelly’s veto to pass a law protecting women and girls from having to share bathrooms, locker rooms, and showers with men in public buildings.
Kansas Senate Bill 244 requires public buildings—including schools and universities—to maintain single-sex private spaces “for use only by individuals of one sex.” The law also mandates that birth certificates and driver’s licenses designate gender based on biological sex, not subjective gender identity.
Kansas Governor Kelly vetoed the bill, claiming lawmakers should “stay out of the business of telling Kansans how to go to the bathroom.” But the Kansas Senate voted 31-9 and the House voted 87-37 to override her veto.
Alliance Defending Freedom praised the override, saying “Women and girls shouldn’t be forced to sacrifice their privacy and safety in the name of promoting gender ideology.” The legal group also noted how this law protects women and girls from having their privacy invaded by biological males.
Arkansas’ lawmakers have already enacted strong protections for physical privacy and safety in our state. Kansas joins a growing list of states that have considered similar measures. Arkansas families can be grateful that our state has been such a strong leader in this area.
Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.
