The Kansas Senate voted to override Gov. Kelly’s vetoes for the transgender sports bill that bans trans athletes from competing in girl’s and women’s sports.
Enough lawmakers supported the veto override, which passed 28-10. The bill covers students from elementary school to the collegiate level.
Opponents of the bill said that the state’s high school activities association already has guidelines in place to address this, and called the veto override another example of GOP overreach.
The Senate also voted to override the governor’s veto of the “Parent’s Bill of Rights.” The bill allows parents to review and object to curriculum or other material available at schools. Legislators and education groups who opposed that bill say it is unnecessary and there are other ways for parents to address concerns without a law in place.
The Senate secured enough votes for additional veto overrides on bills banning cities from prohibiting single-use plastics and authorizing short-term health care plans.
The Senate also sustained two governor vetoes including a COVID-19 bill.
The Kansas House still has to vote on the veto overrides where it will be much more challenging to reach the two-thirds majority needed.
