Kansas State Legislature

The Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature has passed two major laws restricting transgender rights in three years, overriding the governor's veto both times. - Passed SB 244 with veto-proof supermajorities in both chambers

For decades, most U.S. states allowed transgender residents to update the sex listed on their driver's licenses. Kansas just reversed that—not by freezing future changes, but by retroactively invalidating roughly 1,700 licenses and a similar number of birth certificates that had already been updated. The law, published in the Kansas Register on February 26, 2026, took effect immediately with no grace period, meaning affected residents woke up that morning with documents the state now considers invalid.

Updated 2 days ago

Republican supermajorities have enabled veto overrides on transgender-related legislation since 2023. - Republican supermajorities in both chambers

Kansas passed a law requiring individuals to use bathrooms matching their sex assigned at birth in all government buildings, schools, and universities. The January 28, 2026, vote—87-36 in the House and 30-9 in the Senate—exceeded the two-thirds threshold needed to override Democratic Governor Laura Kelly's expected veto. Violations carry escalating penalties: $1,000 civil fine for a second offense and misdemeanor charges for three or more.

Updated Jan 30