Republicans in the Kansas Statehouse found some success in advancing overrides on some of Democrat Governor Laura Kelly’s numerous vetoes on Wednesday, although efforts aren’t complete on some bills and more votes on separate bills are coming soon.
The Kansas Senate voted 28-12 to override Senate Bill 180, which creates the Women’s Bill of Rights defining biological sex in areas like domestic violence centers, locker rooms and restrooms. 17th District Senator Jeff Longbine of Emporia voted in favor. The vote sends the bill to the House for possibly completing the override.
Two veto overrides in the House now go to the Senate for full override approval:
*House members voted 84-40 to override a bill mandating doctors to tell women drug-induced abortions can be reversed. 13th District Representative Duane Droge of Eureka and 76th District Representative Eric Smith of Burlington voted for the bill. 60th District Representative Mark Schreiber of Emporia voted against it.
*The House also voted 85-39 to overturn the veto on HB 2350, which creates crimes of human smuggling and aggravated human smuggling. Schreiber, Droge and Smith were all in favor.
Three notable bills, however, failed to override. On this list:
*A bill that would stop doctors from giving minor patients gender-affirming care under penalty of losing their licenses. The vote was 26-14 in the majority, not enough to override. Longbine voted with the majority.
*A bill that would have created a 5.15-percent flat income tax. Longbine voted with the 26-14 majority.
*A bill that would end the current three-day grace period on receiving advance ballots after the official election day. The vote was 25-15, with Longbine in favor. None of these three bills made it to the House.
More votes on Kelly’s vetoes — nearly 20 in all — are expected Thursday.
