Senate overrides governor veto on 'Help Not Harm' and advances dozens of bills after marathon session

The Kansas Senate on Feb. 18 voted 31–9 to override Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto of Senate Bill 63, the Help Not Harm Act, which limits certain medical treatments for minors and establishes civil and licensing penalties for providers who perform those treatments. The override, one of the day’s most closely watched actions, came after extended floor debate and a floor motion by Senator Sandra Gossage to pass the bill notwithstanding the governor’s veto.

Why it matters: The override sends SB63 to law despite the governor’s objections and puts into effect restrictions on gender‑affirming medical interventions for minors that supporters said protect children and opponents called harmful and ideological. The override and multiple committee and floor votes during the session signal the Senate’s willingness to move a broad legislative agenda this week.

What the Senate did next: Committees moved a long list of bills on to final consideration and reported many measures favorably. That work covered a wide range of policy areas — public‑records and open‑meetings rules, SNAP benefit rules and verification, scholarship tax credits for private schools, changes to bail bond procedures, statutory cleanups and dozens of technical or industry‑specific measures.

Key debates during the day

- SNAP purchases and proposed federal waiver to bar candy and soft drinks (SB79): Senator Sandra Erickson (Sedgwick) led a lengthy committee debate on a measure directing Kansas to request a federal waiver to prohibit use of SNAP (food‑stamp) benefits to purchase candy and soft drinks. The committee carried the bill forward;…