Kansas Legislature Enacts ‘Help Not Harm’ Legislation, Overriding Governor’s Veto

by Zachary Mettler | February 20, 2025 | Government Updates

In a great victory for children’s rights, the Kansas Legislature has overridden Governor Laura Kelly’s veto of a critical bill protecting children from harmful and damaging transgender medical interventions.

The Help Not Harm Act (SB 63) prohibits physicians from providing puberty blocking drugs, opposite-sex hormones and surgeries to children confused about their sexual identity.

As we’ve previously reported, the measure also:

  • Prevents state funds being used for such purposes.
  • Prohibits liability insurance from “covering damages for healthcare providers that provide” these interventions.
  • Labels these procedures “unprofessional conduct.”
  • Requires “professional discipline against a healthcare provider who performs such treatments.”

The legislature has been trying to enact this bill for three years, but didn’t have enough votes to override Gov. Kelly’s continued vetoes until Tuesday.

The Kansas House of Representatives voted 85-34 to override the governor’s veto, followed by 31-9 vote in the Senate.

Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson and House Speaker Dan Hawkins issued a statement after officially signing the veto override.

“Today, we sign[ed] the Help Not Harm Act in honor of the children who[m] Governor Kelly failed to protect with her repeated vetoes of this sensible legislation,” they said, adding,

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.

Kansas Family Voice, a Focus on the Family-allied state family policy council, issued a statement after the bill was passed:

The Kansas Legislature stood up for Kansas children, ensuring they cannot become test subjects for gender ideologues. Our kids deserve better than being subjected to procedures that even proponents of the procedures have admitted are experimental.

Some might ask why state legislatures should continue enacting laws protecting children, when President Trump has taken executive action to end transgender medical interventions. There are several reasons.

First, the president’s order has been put on ice after facing challenges from leftist legal groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal, and the ACLU of Maryland. On February 13, 2025, U.S. District Judge Brendan Hurson issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting the administration from implementing the executive order.

Second, executive orders can always be amended or rescinded by future presidents. Enacted laws are far more permanent.

Finally, the U.S. Supreme Court is currently considering whether states can constitutionally protect children from transgender medical interventions. Kansas’ successful attempt to enact the legislation puts more pressure on the court to uphold such laws.

We thank all pro-family legislators and state organizations involved in enacting Kansas’ Help Not Harm Act. This legislation ensures children in The Sunflower State have their right to bodily integrity and an intact sexual identity upheld.

Focus on the Family exists to help families, and that includes help navigating difficult issues like transgenderism. Focus offers a free, one-time counseling consultation with a licensed or pastoral counselor. To request a consultation, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) or fill out our Counseling Consultation Request Form.

Related articles and resources:

Counseling Consultation & Referrals

Transgender Resources

Addressing Gender Identity with Honesty and Compassion

The Journey Back to My True Identity

What is ‘Gender Identity’

Kansas Governor Vetoes ‘Help Not Harm’ Bill – Child Advocates Call for Override

DOJ Advocates for Children in Important Case on Transgender Medical Interventions

President Trump Signs Order Protecting Children From Transgender Medical Interventions

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