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Kansas Senate Bill 63

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Help Not Harm Act
Kansas Legislature
  • AN ACT concerning children and minors; relating to healthcare of minors; enacting the help not harm act; prohibiting healthcare providers from treating a child whose gender identity is inconsistent with the child's sex; authorizing a civil cause of action against healthcare providers for providing such treatments; restricting use of state funds to promote gender transitioning; prohibiting professional liability insurance from covering damages for healthcare providers that provide gender transition treatment to children; requiring professional discipline against a healthcare provider who performs such treatments; adding violation of the act to the definition of unprofessional conduct for physicians; amending K.S.A. 65-2837 and repealing the existing section.
Citation[1]
Enacted byKansas Senate
EnactedJanuary 29, 2025
Passed byKansas House of Representatives
PassedJanuary 31, 2025
Vetoed byLaura Kelly
VetoedFebruary 11, 2025
Veto overriddenFebruary 18, 2025
EffectiveJuly 1, 2025
IntroducedJanuary 22, 2025
Voting summary
  • 32 voted for
  • 8 voted against
Second chamber: Kansas House of Representatives
Voting summary
  • 83 voted for
  • 35 voted against
PassedJanuary 31, 2025
Final stages
Reconsidered by the Kansas Senate after vetoFebruary 18, 2025
Voting summary
  • 31 voted for
  • 9 voted against
Reconsidered by the Kansas House of Representatives after vetoFebruary 18, 2025
Voting summary
  • 85 voted for
  • 34 voted against
Summary
Restricts gender-affirming medical care for Kansans under eighteen years of age.
Status: Not yet in force

Kansas Senate Bill 63 (S.B. 63), also known as the Help Not Harm Act, is a 2025 law in the state of Kansas that bans gender-affirming care for transgender people under 18, allows disciplinary actions against medical providers who do give such care and requires transgender Kansans under 18 to medically detransition by December 31, 2025.

The bill passed in January and was subsequently vetoed by Democratic governor Laura Kelly.[1] Her veto was overridden on February 18, 2025, and became law on February 20.[2] A lawsuit is pending by the ACLU of Kansas.[3][4]

Provisions

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S.B. 63 bans gender-affirming care for minors in Kansas. It allows those who have received or would receive said care to sue healthcare professionals for providing such care. It blocks the state from using taxpayer money to pay for gender-affirming care. Minors already receiving gender-affirming care are required to withdraw from said care by December 31, 2025, generally affecting hormone replacement therapy (HRT).[5] It also restricts state employees, like social workers, from acknowledging or supporting the transition of a minor, medical or not.[6] The law fully takes effect on July 1, 2025.[7]

Reactions

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Support

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The Alliance Defending Freedom opposed governor Laura Kelly's February 11 veto, stating that S.B. 63 it protected kids from "gender ideology" and that gender-affirming medical treatments harmed children.[8] State Republicans nearly unanimously supported S.B. 63.[9] A statement was released by Republican Senate President Ty Masterson and Republican House Speaker Dan Hawkins in opposition to Kelly's veto.[10][11] Attorney General Kris Kobach endorsed S.B. 63 and promised to fight the ACLU's lawsuit against it.[12] The Christian Post released an article following Kelly's veto favoring pro-S.B. 63 stances.[13]

Opposition

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S.B. 63 was opposed by the ACLU of Kansas and the national ACLU.[14][15] Some local providers and medical groups, such as Interpersonal Psychiatry and Kansas Interfaith Action, released statements in opposition to S.B. 63.[16][17]

Laura Kelly

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Laura Kelly, the governor of Kansas, vetoed S.B. 63 on February 11, 2025. In her response, she explained that the bill did not help Kansans with their present issues and that the bill infringed on the rights of parents to decide what is right for their children.[18]

References

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  1. ^ "Lawrence, Kansas, residents react to Senate Bill 63". KSHB 41 Kansas City News. 2025-02-25. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  2. ^ "Controversial 'Help Not Harm Act' to take effect on Thursday in Kansas". KSNT 27 News. 2025-02-19. Archived from the original on 2025-02-21. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  3. ^ Grabauskas, Bryan (2025-05-28). "Kansas' ban on youth gender treatments facing legal challenge". WIBW13. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  4. ^ Migdon, Brooke (2025-05-28). "ACLU sues Kansas over trans minors care ban". The Hill. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  5. ^ Carpenter, Tim (2025-01-30). "Kansas Senate easily adopts bill blocking gender-affirming health care for minors • Kansas Reflector". Kansas Reflector. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  6. ^ Mesa, Blaise (2025-01-30). "Kansas Republicans close to banning gender-affirming care for minors". Beacon: Kansas. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  7. ^ Arnold, Joshua (2025-02-19). "Kansas Legislature Enacts Help Not Harm Act in Veto Override". washingtonstand.com. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  8. ^ Trahoon, Tagan. "Kansas Governor Laura Kelly vetoes Senate Bill 63 known as the Help Not Harm Act following passage by both Senate and House in late January". KVOE. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  9. ^ "Legislature passes "Help Not Harm Act" outlawing gender-affirming treatment, setting up showdown with governor - The Sentinel". sentinelksmo.org. 2025-02-03. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  10. ^ Migdon, Brooke (2025-02-19). "Kansas legislature overrides governor's veto of ban on gender-affirming care for minors". The Hill. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  11. ^ Jones, Shayndel (2025-02-18). "Kansas Senate overrides Governor Kelly's veto of 'Help Not Harm Act'". WIBW13. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  12. ^ Smith, Sherman (2025-05-28). "Kansas trans kids file lawsuit over new law banning gender-affirming care". Kansas Reflector. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  13. ^ Foley, Ryan; Reporter, Christian Post (2025-02-12). "Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly vetoes bill banning sex-change surgeries for minors". www.christianpost.com. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  14. ^ "Take Action on SB 63 | ACLU of Kansas". www.aclukansas.org. 2025-02-13. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  15. ^ "SB 63: Anti Gender Affirming Care | ACLU of Kansas". www.aclukansas.org. 2025-01-24. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  16. ^ Hills, Grace (2025-04-04). "Kansas mental health providers brace for impact of anti-trans laws". Kansas Reflector. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  17. ^ Moti, Reb (2025-01-23). "Reb Moti Reports on this Year's Anti-trans legislation | Kansas Interfaith Action". Kansas Interfaith Action. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  18. ^ "Governor Kelly Vetoes Divisive Legislation". www.governor.ks.gov. Archived from the original on 2025-05-29. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
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