Kansas House approves SB 63, ‘Help Not Harm’ restrictions on gender-related care for minors

The Kansas House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 63, known as the "Help Not Harm Act," prohibiting certain gender-transition treatments for minors and authorizing civil and professional penalties for health-care providers; the measure passed by a vote of 83-35.

Supporters and opponents framed the bill as a child-protection measure or as harmful government overreach. The bill’s text, as read into the record, prohibits health-care providers from treating a child whose gender identity is inconsistent with the child’s [as described in the bill], authorizes a civil cause of action against providers who give such treatments, restricts use of state funds to promote gender transitioning, limits professional liability coverage for providers who provide gender-transition treatment to children, and calls for professional discipline for providers who perform those treatments.

The bill prompted multiple members to explain their votes before the clerk recorded the final tally. Representative Melton said, "These are decisions that should be made between the individual, their family, and their doctor." Representative Susan Ruiz said she did not believe the bill was about protecting children and said it "is sacrificing trans kids as a way to get back at the governor and everyone who voted to defeat it." Representative Featherston said lawmakers "could be working on ways to reduce suicide and unintentional shootings by children" instead of the bill, and Representative Weichel called health care "a fundamental human right" and said the bill "discriminates against one group of children and prevents health care providers from practicing within their scope of practice." Minority Leader Woodard said, "I vote no on Senate Bill 63 because it is not about healthcare or medical procedures. It is an unjust attack on a small vulnerable group of Kansans." Representative Oropeza said, "I vote no on senate bill 63 because I stand with the health care providers in the state of Kansas to the LGB community under the 18 under 18 who are watching this broadcast." Representative Schmoyer, explaining a yes vote, said to youth in Kansas, "You are cared about. You are stronger and more resilient than life's disappointments and disagreements."

The clerk opened and closed the roll for final action; the speaker announced "83 having voted in favor and 35 against the passage of Senate Bill 63," and the bill was declared passed. The record on the House floor included multiple members’ explanations of vote prior to the clerk’s announcement.

Less-detailed provisions in the bill reading included prohibitions on use of state funds to promote gender transitioning and language adding violations under the act to definitions of professional conduct for physicians. The transcript did not specify implementation dates, the full statutory language, or the next administrative steps for enrollment to the governor.

The House also recorded a broad roster of members who spoke or registered positions during the explanation-of-vote period; the transcript lists multiple individual explanations and votes but does not assign a full roll-call vote to named members in the transcript excerpt.