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KansasSB 2442025–2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

House Substitute for SB 244 by Committee on Judiciary - Requiring the designation of multiple-occupancy private spaces in public buildings for use by only one sex and imposing criminal and civil penalties for violations, defining the term "gender" to mean biological sex at birth for purposes of statutory construction, directing the division of vehicles to invalidate and reissue driver's licenses when necessary to correct the gender identification on such licenses and directing the office of vital statistics to invalidate and reissue birth certificates when necessary to correct the sex identification on such certificates.

Sponsored By: Committee on Judiciary

Became Law

house committee on judiciarysenate committee on judiciary

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

8 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 4 costs, 2 mixed.

Privacy victims gain rights to sue

People using shared private spaces designated for their sex can sue opposite-sex entrants who violate the law and harm them. Qualifying harm includes an invasion of personal privacy. Plaintiffs can seek actual damages or a fixed $1,000 payment, plus court orders declaring rights or stopping violations. Winning plaintiffs may also recover reasonable attorney fees and costs, but lawsuits must be filed within two years after the violation. Defendants have a defense if they did not know the space was designated for the opposite sex.

Sex-development diagnoses receive legal accommodation protections

People born with a medically verifiable diagnosis of a disorder or difference in sex development must receive legal protections and accommodations. These are the protections and accommodations provided by the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable Kansas laws.

Birth-sex rules invalidate some Kansas documents

Kansas birth certificates and driver's licenses issued before July 1, 2026, are invalid if their sex or gender markers conflict with birth sex. The state registrar must correct affected birth-certificate records. The driver's license director must correct records and notify affected people to surrender their invalid licenses. A replacement license is issued after surrender. The Division may charge up to $8 for a new license photo, in addition to existing license fees.

Repeat restroom violations bring personal penalties

People may not enter shared private spaces in public buildings designated for the opposite birth sex, except for permitted entries. After a prior finding of a violation, a second violation carries a $1,000 civil penalty. A third or later violation is a class B misdemeanor. Exceptions include specified assistance, emergencies, law enforcement, athletic duties, and children under nine accompanied by caregivers.

Public restrooms face birth-sex access rules

Kansas government entities must designate shared restrooms, locker rooms, changing rooms, and showers in public buildings for one birth sex. They must take reasonable steps to prevent opposite-sex entry, adding privacy protections while restricting access. Exceptions cover specified assistance, cleaning, maintenance, medical care, emergencies, law enforcement, athletic duties, and children under nine with caregivers. The law permits single-occupancy spaces and recognizes disability accommodations. The requirement excludes government buildings leased to private entities under leases in force when the law takes effect.

Kansas ties legal gender to birth sex

Kansas law defines sex and gender as biological sex at birth: male or female. Terms such as woman, man, mother, and father also follow biological sex. Laws treating the sexes differently must substantially support an important government goal, a test called intermediate scrutiny. The law declares separate accommodations in athletics, detention facilities, shelters, restrooms, and similar settings support health, safety, and privacy. This supports sex-based accommodations but limits legal recognition of sex or gender to birth sex.

Public entities face daily restroom fines

Government entities violating the public-building space rules face $25,000 for a first violation and $125,000 for each later violation. Each day a violation continues counts separately. Before filing a complaint, a person must give written notice describing the violation. The entity has through the third business day after receiving that notice to fix it. The attorney general must investigate and, before suing, give written notice allowing correction through the 15th day after receipt.

Schools and agencies must record birth sex

Kansas public schools, school districts, and government offices face limits when collecting vital statistics for specified purposes. They can identify each person only as male or female at birth. Covered purposes include anti-discrimination compliance and public-health, crime, economic, or other data collection.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Committee on Judiciary

    Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 985 • No: 1,242

Senate vote • 4/23/2026

Yea: 87 Nay: 37

Yes: 87 • No: 37

Senate vote • 4/23/2026

Yea: 42 Nay: 76

Yes: 42 • No: 76

Senate vote • 4/23/2026

Yea: 38 Nay: 77

Yes: 38 • No: 77

Senate vote • 4/23/2026

Yea: 34 Nay: 82

Yes: 34 • No: 82

Senate vote • 4/23/2026

Yea: 87 Nay: 36

Yes: 87 • No: 36

Senate vote • 4/23/2026

Yea: 30 Nay: 9

Yes: 30 • No: 9

Senate vote • 4/23/2026

Yea: 31 Nay: 9

Yes: 31 • No: 9

Senate vote • 4/23/2026

Yea: 36 Nay: 85

Yes: 36 • No: 85

Senate vote • 4/23/2026

Yea: 36 Nay: 86

Yes: 36 • No: 86

Senate vote • 4/23/2026

Yea: 36 Nay: 81

Yes: 36 • No: 81

House vote • 2/18/2026

Motion to override veto prevailed

Yes: 87 • No: 37

Senate vote • 2/17/2026

Motion to override veto prevailed

Yes: 31 • No: 9

House vote • 1/28/2026

Committee of the Whole - Amendment by Rep. Lindsay Vaughn was rejected

Yes: 36 • No: 85

House vote • 1/28/2026

Committee of the Whole - Amendment by Rep. Tobias Schlingensiepen was rejected

Yes: 36 • No: 81

House vote • 1/28/2026

Committee of the Whole - Amendment by Rep. Susan Ruiz was rejected

Yes: 42 • No: 76

House vote • 1/28/2026

Committee of the Whole - Amendment by Rep. Stephanie Sawyer Clayton was rejected

Yes: 34 • No: 82

House vote • 1/28/2026

Emergency Final Action - Substitute passed as amended

Yes: 87 • No: 36

House vote • 1/28/2026

Committee of the Whole - Amendment by Rep. Angela Martinez was rejected

Yes: 34 • No: 83

House vote • 1/28/2026

Committee of the Whole - Amendment by Rep. Nikki McDonald was rejected

Yes: 36 • No: 86

House vote • 1/28/2026

Committee of the Whole - Amendment by Rep. Brooklynne Mosley was rejected

Yes: 38 • No: 77

Senate vote • 1/28/2026

Concurred with amendments

Yes: 30 • No: 9

Senate vote • 2/19/2025

Emergency Final Action - Passed as amended

Yes: 37 • No: 3

Actions Timeline

  1. Motion to override veto prevailed; Yea 87, Nay 37, Absent 1

    2/18/2026House

  2. Motion to override veto prevailed; Yea 31, Nay 9

    2/17/2026Senate

  3. Vetoed by Governor; Returned to Senate on Friday, February 13, 2026

    2/16/2026Senate

  4. Enrolled and presented to Governor on Tuesday, February 3, 2026

    2/3/2026Senate

  5. Committee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted recommending substitute bill be passed

    1/28/2026House

  6. Committee of the Whole - Motion to rerefer to committee failed

    1/28/2026House

  7. Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Rep. Bob Lewis

    1/28/2026House

  8. Committee of the Whole - Amendment by Rep. Bob Lewis was adopted

    1/28/2026House

  9. Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Rep. Angela Martinez

    1/28/2026House

  10. Committee of the Whole - Amendment by Rep. Angela Martinez was rejected; Yea 34, Nay 83, Absent 8

    1/28/2026House

  11. Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Rep. Lindsay Vaughn

    1/28/2026House

  12. Committee of the Whole - Amendment by Rep. Lindsay Vaughn was rejected; Yea 36, Nay 85, Absent 4

    1/28/2026House

  13. Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Rep. Nikki McDonald

    1/28/2026House

  14. Committee of the Whole - Amendment by Rep. Nikki McDonald was rejected; Yea 36, Nay 86, Absent 3

    1/28/2026House

  15. Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Rep. Tobias Schlingensiepen

    1/28/2026House

  16. Committee of the Whole - Amendment by Rep. Tobias Schlingensiepen was rejected; Yea 36, Nay 81, Absent 8

    1/28/2026House

  17. Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Rep. Bob Lewis

    1/28/2026House

  18. Committee of the Whole - Amendment by Rep. Bob Lewis was adopted

    1/28/2026House

  19. Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Rep. Susan Ruiz

    1/28/2026House

  20. Committee of the Whole - Amendment by Rep. Susan Ruiz was rejected; Yea 42, Nay 76, Absent 7

    1/28/2026House

  21. Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Rep. Susan Ruiz

    1/28/2026House

  22. Committee of the Whole - Amendment by Rep. Susan Ruiz was rejected

    1/28/2026House

  23. Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Rep. Susan Ruiz

    1/28/2026House

  24. Committee of the Whole - Amendment by Rep. Susan Ruiz was rejected

    1/28/2026House

  25. Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Rep. Suzanne Wikle

    1/28/2026House

Bill Text

  • As Introduced

    PDF

  • Enrolled

    PDF

  • H Sub for

    PDF

  • {As Amended by House Committee of the Whole}

    PDF

  • {As Amended by Senate Committee of the Whole}

    PDF

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