Kansas lawmakers overrode two of Governor Laura Kelly’s vetoes on gender policy as part of their business Thursday.
The House followed the Senate’s override vote Wednesday with an 84-40 vote Thursday, thus making Senate Bill 180 law. The so-called Women’s Bill of Rights defines biological sex in areas like domestic violence centers, locker rooms and restrooms. Supporters say the law protects women from unwanted or potentially dangerous incursions in these areas, while critics have said the bill opens the door for genitalia checks in schools for students. 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 was against it.
A connected vote now has separate accommodations for students on school-sponsored trips after the Senate voted 31-8 to overturn Governor Kelly’s veto of Senate Substitute for House Bill 2138. 17th District Senator Jeff Longbine was in favor. The House had already voted 85-39 in favor of the override.
A bill allowing parents the right to object to and challenge different educational materials failed in the House, which voted 78-45 in favor of House Bill 2236 — not enough for an override. Droge and Smith voted in favor, while Schreiber voted against. The bill thus dies before having a chance to go to the Senate.
Separately, the full Legislature has now passed a bill that would legalize fentanyl test strips as use of that particular drug spreads rapidly across the country. Senate Bill 174 removes tests for fentanyl, ketamine and GHB from the state’s prohibited list of drug paraphernalia. The Senate’s vote was 31-7, with Longbine in favor. The House vote was 113-9, with Droge, Schreiber and Smith all in the majority.
