Kansas Governor Laura Kelly made headlines on Friday when she vetoed a bill that would have banned transgender treatment for minors in the state, as well as two bills imposing abortion restrictions. The Substitute Bill for Senate Bill 233 aimed to outlaw transgender treatment for minors and restrict the use of state funds for such treatment. Governor Kelly, a Democrat, stated that the legislation “tramples parental rights” and goes against conservative and Kansas values.
In addition to vetoing the transgender treatment bill, Governor Kelly also vetoed two separate bills that would have imposed additional abortion restrictions in the state. One bill would have required reporting of abortions performed in the state, including reasons for the procedure, while the other bill would have criminalized coercion to obtain an abortion. Governor Kelly cited privacy concerns and vague language in the bills as reasons for her vetoes.
This decision comes after Kansas residents voted against an amendment to the state’s constitution in 2022 that would have given lawmakers the ability to regulate abortion. The issue of abortion has been a contentious one, especially after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the landmark case Roe v. Wade, further dividing the nation on the issue.
Meanwhile, just this past week, Arizona made headlines for reverting back to a 160-year-old law that outlaws abortions in nearly all circumstances. The state Supreme Court’s ruling has sparked debate and controversy surrounding abortion rights in the state.
Governor Kelly’s veto of these bills adds to the ongoing debate over transgender rights and abortion restrictions in the United States. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
