Republicans have succeeded in overriding a Democrat governor’s veto of a bill protecting children from dangerous, irreversible transgender procedures.
On February 18, Kansas became the 27th state to protect children from transgender procedures, with state Republican lawmakers voting to override a veto from Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (D). The vote to override the veto was 31-9 in the state Senate and 85-34 in the state House.
The “Help Not Harm Act” blocks doctors from performing transgender procedures on minors, including surgeries, cross-sex hormones, and puberty blockers. A similar measure was passed in 2024 but Republicans were unable to override Kelly’s veto at that time.
Kansas state Senate President Ty Masterson and state House Speaker Dan Hawkins celebrated the bill’s passage in a joint statement.
“Today, we sign the Help Not Harm Act in honor of the children who Governor Kelly failed to protect with her repeated vetoes of this sensible legislation,” the statement read. “With help from Kansas voters last fall, we were able to override her veto and protect Kansas children from these harmful, irreversible, and experimental gender-reassignment surgeries and medicines. We are so thankful to everyone who made this victory for common-sense possible.”
Great news! Following our vote in the Senate, the House successfully overrode the governor's veto of the Help Not Harm Act, and it is now law! Speaker @DanHawkinsKS and I made it official just moments ago by signing the bill. #ksleg pic.twitter.com/QOMM9F63fk
— Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson (@sentymasterson) February 18, 2025
The Help Not Harm Act also includes a process for minors and parents who were harmed by these dangerous and irreversible transgender procedures to bring a civil lawsuit against any doctor who violates the new law — allowing them to receive punitive damages and injunctive relief. The act also states that doctors who violate the law could face professional discipline and lose their medical license.
The law also blocks state officials and taxpayer funds from supporting the “social transition” of a minor.
“A state employee whose official duties include the care of children shall not, while engaged in those official duties, promote the use of social transitioning or provide or promote medication or surgery,” the text of the law states.
The Help Not Harm Act was opposed by every single state Democrat lawmaker, as well as so-called Republican Rep. Mark Schreiber.
U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS), who has proposed legislation at the federal level to ban all transgender procedures for minors nationwide, also celebrated the legislation passed in his home state.
“Despite Kansas Governor Laura Kelly’s best efforts, the mutilation and sterilization of minors will not happen in Kansas,” he said. “Praise God!”
Despite Kansas Governor Laura Kelly’s best efforts, the mutilation and sterilization of minors will not happen in Kansas.
Praise God!https://t.co/wJ48zpIm5M
— Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) February 19, 2025
Marshall, who is also a doctor, has been calling out the Kansas governor on this issue for some time now:
Governor Laura Kelly put her radical, liberal agenda above the well-being of Kansas children by vetoing a bipartisan bill that would have protected them from irreversible harm. This is disgraceful.
Most Kansans and Americans agree transgender surgeries and hormone treatments… pic.twitter.com/VZ6CQkp1yi
— Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) February 13, 2025
