First Successful Pro-Life Override Victories in Kansas History
(Topeka, KS – April 27, 2023) – Earlier today, the Kansas Legislature successfully overrode Governor Kelly’s vetoes of the Abortion Pill Reversal Informed Consent Requirements and the Alternatives to Abortion Funding Program, which now becomes law. This comes just one day after bipartisan supermajorities in the Kansas Senate and House overrode Governor Kelly’s heartless veto of the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act.
KFL Director of Government Relations, Jeanne Gawdun, released the following statement about the successful passage of these compassionate, life-affirming policies:
“For the first time in state history, a bipartisan group of legislators came together to override a Governor’s veto of pro-life policies. Not only did they have the courage to stand against the Governor’s extremist views on abortion and infanticide, but ensured women are provided with potentially life-saving information and compassionate abortion alternatives.”
The following are additional statements regarding each of the new Kansas laws:
Born-Alive Infants Protection Act:
“We applaud the Kansas legislators from both sides of the aisle who stood together for compassion and basic human decency by repudiating Governor Kelly’s heartless veto of the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act. Born-Alive protections proved to be the very definition of a “middle-of-the-road” position, with 96% of Kansans in agreement that babies born alive after attempted abortions deserve the same degree of medical care as any newborn of the same gestational age. Any legislator who failed to vote to override HB 2313 made themselves subservient to one of the most extreme abortion positions possible, effectively endorsing infanticide.”
Abortion Pill Reversal Informed Consent:
“We’re grateful for the bipartisan coalition of Kansas Legislators who overrode the governor’s extreme veto of Abortion Pill Reversal Informed Consent legislation. Kansans thank these legislators for refusing to allow the abortion industry to withhold this potentially lifesaving information, thereby forcing women to have abortions they no longer want if they change their minds before the process is complete.”
Alternatives to Abortion Program Funding:
“Governor Kelly vetoed a bill denying help for women facing unexpected pregnancies, but with bipartisan support, Kansas legislators stood for women and babies. We thank legislators for increasing resources for women who make the choice to parent or place their child for adoption.”
The Senate also passed SB8 earlier today, which includes provisions to allow tax credits for donations made to pregnancy resource centers and a generation-changing increase of the adoption tax credit. It now heads to the Governor’s desk and awaits action.