Dem Kansas Governor Vetoes Poorly Written, Very Bad Anti-Trans Bathroom Bill The Kansas state legislature passed a bill restricting transgender people from using bathrooms that do not align with their birth gender, which Governor Laura Kelly vetoed due to its numerous unintended consequences and poor drafting. The bill’s potential to affect family visits, hospital stays, and parental accompaniment to restrooms, along with its bounty system for reporting violations, was criticized. Despite the veto, the Republican supermajority in the legislature has enough votes to override it, indicating a continued legislative push against transgender rights, mirroring actions in Idaho.

• Kansas Governor Laura Kelly vetoed a bill that would prohibit transgender people from using bathrooms aligning with their gender identity.
• The governor cited the bill’s poor drafting and highlighted absurd potential consequences, such as preventing family members from visiting each other in shared hospital rooms or dorms.
• The bill included provisions for a bounty system, allowing individuals to report suspected violations for financial reward, and imposed significant civil penalties on governmental entities.
• Critics argue the bill is not about safety but about policing and making transgender individuals feel unwelcome, aiming to push them back into the closet.
• The Republican-controlled legislature possesses enough votes to override the governor’s veto, and a similar bill has recently passed the Idaho House.