Kansas SB 180[1] or the Kansas Women's Bill of Rights is a bill that bans any identification of a gender other than the gender recognized at birth in the US state of Kansas.[2][non-primary source needed] Kansas governor Laura Kelly vetoed the bill in April 2023.[3] On April 26th and 27th, the Kansas Senate and House of Representatives voted to override the veto, making the bill law.
| Kansas Senate Bill 180 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Kansas Legislature | |
| Enacted by | Kansas Senate |
| Enacted by | Kansas House of Representatives |
| Vetoed by | Governor Laura Kelly |
| Vetoed | 20 April 2023 |
| Veto overridden | 27 April 2023 |
| Legislative history | |
| First chamber: Kansas Senate | |
| Passed | February 9, 2023 |
| Voting summary |
|
| Second chamber: Kansas House of Representatives | |
| Passed | February 23, 2023 |
| Voting summary |
|
| Final stages | |
| Reconsidered by the Kansas Senate after veto | April 26, 2023 |
| Voting summary |
|
| Reconsidered by the Kansas House of Representatives after veto | April 27, 2023 |
| Voting summary |
|
| Status: Current legislation | |
Bill
editThe bill was originally introduced in the Kansas Senate by Republican Renee Erickson in February 2023, and is sponsored by the Committee on Public Health and Welfare. It received final passage with amendments on April 4, 2023. It defines a "female" as a person "whose biological reproductive system is developed to produce ova", and a "male" as a person "whose biological reproductive system is developed to fertilize the ova of a female".[1] Its proponents state that gender identity and biological sex should be defined in law, with the need for specific sex spaces excluding trans people.[4] The bill is controversial for excluding intersex people, such as those with ambiguous genitalia, with both male or female reproductive organs, or women born without ovaries.[4]
Despite the fact that the federal government recognizes gender transition on documents including passports and birth certificates[2] and in housing, the bill restricts agencies in Kansas, both public and private, from assigning any gender other than that assigned at birth.[5] It has been criticized as removing human rights and legal rights from trans people in the state.[4][6]
Testimony
editDuring the hearing of Kansas SB 180, proponents' testimony stated a need to legally define biological sex specifically for purposes of sex segregation, and also stated that the bill is consistent with federal protections for transgender people.[7] Opposition testimony stated that the bill employs outdated, inaccurate, and underinclusive definitions of sex and families, as well as excluding intersex people.[8]
Veto
editOn April 20, 2023, Governor Kelly vetoed the bill, stating that it threatens economic development in Kansas and would leave the state open to lawsuits alleging discrimination. The Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives, Dan Hawkins, criticized the governor's veto as taking the side of "left-wing activists".[3] According to the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence, if it became law and was inconsistent with federal law, the bill could endanger over $17 million in federal funding to the state.[9]
Veto overridden
editOn April 26, 2023, the Kansas Senate voted to override the veto, with the Kansas House of Representatives also voting to override the veto on April 27, 2023. This actions made the bill a law.[10]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "SB 180 | Bills and Resolutions". Kansas State Legislature. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
- ^ a b "Text - H.Res.1209 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): Recognizing that it is the duty of the Federal Government to develop and implement a Transgender Bill of Rights to protect and codify the rights of transgender and nonbinary people under the law and ensure their access to medical care, shelter, safety, and economic security". U. S. Congress.
- ^ a b Andrew Bahl (April 20, 2023). "Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly rejects transgender bathroom bill, gender-affirming care ban". Topeka Capital-Journal – via Yahoo News.
- ^ a b c Rachel Mipro; Sherman Smith (February 15, 2023). "Critics call proposed Kansas 'women's bill of rights' sexist, transphobic". Kansas Reflector.
- ^ Jason Tidd; Andrew Bahl (February 27, 2023). "Here's where four major issues stand after Kansas Legislature's busiest day of the session". Topeka Capital-Journal.
- ^ Katie Bernard; Jenna Barackman (February 13, 2023). "KS bills ban gender-affirming care and bar trans women from female designated spaces". Kansas City Star.
- ^ Jennifer Braceras (February 15, 2023). "IWLC Supports Kansas Senate Bill 180" (PDF). Kansas State Legislature.
- ^ Tammy Quayle (February 15, 2023). "Oral and Written Opposition Testimony regarding SB 180" (PDF). Kansas State Legislature.
- ^ "Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly rejects transgender bathroom bill, gender-affirming care ban". The Topeka Capital-Journal.
- ^ Mipro, Rachel (2023-04-27). "Trans Kansas women barred from women's bathrooms, female-only spaces under new law". Kansas Reflector. Retrieved 2023-04-28.