Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes Applauds Governor Laura Kelly for Vetoing Bills Attacking Abortion Rights and Reproductive Care in Kansas

Today, Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes applauded Governor Kelly’s veto of two bills that further shame and stigmatize sexual and reproductive health care, while jeopardizing the provider and patient relationship. Despite Kansans overwhelmingly supporting abortion rights, anti-abortion lawmakers passed House Bills 2749 and 2436, which directly interfere with the bodily autonomy of Kansans and their fundamental right to make their own decision about health care.

“Governor Kelly’s veto of these anti-abortion bills sends yet another message to lawmakers: in Kansas, we respect the will of voters, who spoke loud and clear they did not want politicians in their personal health care decisions,” said Emily Wales, president and CEO, Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes. “These stigmatizing bills were not crafted to improve the health and well-being of Kansans; they were merely meant to shame reproductive care. In the case of the ‘reporting bill,’ the legislature would force patients to answer deeply personal questions that could further hurt or retraumatize survivors, when instead they should be able to access non-judgmental, inclusive care. Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes trusts patients and stands firmly against any legislation that seeks to undermine reproductive rights or limit access to essential health care services. We thank Governor Kelly for her steadfast commitment to protecting the rights of all Kansans.”

HB 2749 would have compelled health care providers to interrogate patients seeking abortion care with invasive and unnecessary questions from a legislatively drafted list, of “reasons.” The bill would have violated patient privacy, inflicted undue emotional distress, and encroached upon personal health care decisions. 

HB 2436 would have intruded upon personal autonomy by criminalizing abortion-related coercion. This bill sought to equate abortion with crime, perpetuating false narratives and eroding the fundamental right to choose, and does nothing to protect Kansans from reproductive coercion of all forms, including forced pregnancy or tampering with someone’s birth control.

These bills are part of an anti-democratic trend in Kansas, where anti-abortion lawmakers have persistently advanced legislation that attacks reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy. Despite overwhelming public support for abortion rights, these bills recklessly disregard the will of Kansans, endangering the health and safety of countless individuals.

Governor Kelly also vetoed Senate Bill 233, which sought to prohibit gender-affirming care for transgender minors, undermining their access to essential, life-saving medical services and perpetuating harmful discrimination against the transgender community. 

In the final days of the regular legislative session, lawmakers also passed bills that gave additional taxpayer dollars to anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) including: 

• HB 2465 (a budget bill that includes SB 498): Establishes a tax credit for donations made to anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) and provides a sales tax exemption for CPCs. The sole purpose of CPCs is to provide inaccurate, misleading, and deceptive information about abortion and to discourage visitors from seeking abortion care (often through coercive means). 
• SB 28: The state budget includes $2 million appropriated from the State General Fund to the Pregnancy Compassion Awareness Program (formerly the Alternatives to Abortion Program) for FY 2025. The program aims to redirect essential state funds towards CPCs and other radical anti-abortion initiatives, instead of allocating funds to support low-income Kansans with vital assistance such as food, shelter, and opportunities for career advancement.  

Both HB 2465 and SB 28 have been sent to the Governor’s desk. Lawmakers will reconvene on April 25, for the designated legislative veto session.