Kansas lawmakers approved legislation this week that restricts which restrooms transgender people may use in public buildings, advancing the measure to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s desk after hours of contentious debate and criticism over how the bill was passed.
The legislation, commonly referred to by opponents as a “bathroom bill,” KS SB244, requires individuals in state and local government buildings, public schools, and other public facilities to use restrooms and locker rooms based on their sex assigned at birth rather than their gender identity.
The bathroom provisions were added late in the legislative process and were not subject to a standalone public hearing, a procedural decision that drew sharp objections from Democratic lawmakers and civil rights advocates.
During floor debate, House Democrats attempted to slow the bill’s passage through extended discussion and procedural motions, arguing that the lack of public testimony denied Kansans the opportunity to weigh in on a measure that directly affects transgender residents.
“This bill spits on basic human decency,” Rep. Dan Osman, a Democrat from Overland Park, said during debate. Other opponents described the legislation as punitive, unnecessary, and harmful to transgender people who already face discrimination in daily life.
Republican supporters defended the bill as a clarification of existing law and framed it as a privacy measure, particularly for women and girls in shared spaces. GOP lawmakers argued that restroom use should be determined by biological sex and said the bill provides consistency across public facilities.
The Kansas House approved the measure after hours of debate, with Republicans voting largely along party lines. The Senate later concurred, clearing the bill for the governor’s consideration. Because the bathroom language was inserted into legislation that had already advanced through committee, it did not require an additional Senate hearing.
Critics said that maneuver allowed lawmakers to bypass public input from families, educators, medical professionals, and transgender Kansans themselves.
“This is about who is allowed to exist in public spaces,” Rep. Tobias Schlingensiepen, a Democrat from Topeka, said. “We are talking about people just trying to live their lives.”
Governor Kelly has not yet announced whether she will sign or veto the bill. She has previously vetoed multiple anti-transgender measures, citing civil rights concerns and the potential for costly legal challenges. In several past instances, Republican lawmakers have overridden her vetoes using their supermajorities in both chambers.
The Kansas legislation follows a broader national trend of state-level bills targeting transgender access to public spaces, particularly restrooms, athletics, and health care. Advocacy groups have warned that such laws increase stigma and place transgender people at greater risk of harassment and violence.
If enacted, the law would take effect later this year. Legal challenges are expected should the measure become law.
