Updated at 5:36 PM.
WHAT’S HAPPENING?
Yesterday, SB 63 was introduced. Like SB 233, SB 63 would ban trans healthcare for minors and ban state buildings and employees from “promoting” social or medical transition. Today, the House introduced HB 2071 — the exact same bill.
WHAT DOES A BAN ON “PROMOTING” TRANSITION MEAN?
Here are some examples:
- The Kansas Department of Education cannot have any materials that address trans students.
- Employees in the foster care system could not use “they/them” pronouns for a child who uses them.
- A mother reaches out to her family doctor through KU Med because she is concerned about her child who is showing signs of gender dysphoria. That doctor would not be allowed to discuss anything about how to help her child if it relates to transitioning — including changing gender expression — in any way.
- Teachers, counselors, social workers, and other educational staff could be subject to policies & penalties for acknowledging a trans student’s identity in any positive way.
- The trans pride flag may be banned from spaces that primarily serve youth.
- Cases where a child is experiencing harassment or abuse based on their trans identity could potentially be ignored.
WHAT CAN I DO?
We need you to submit a written or oral testimony.
The Senate Committee on Public Health & Welfare has a hearing scheduled for SB 63 on Tuesday, January 28 at 8:30 AM in Room 548-S.
The House Committee on Health & Human Services has a hearing scheduled for HB 2071 on Tuesday, January 28 at 1:30 PM in Room 112-S.
Time is limited. You need to act now.
Cis healthcare providers, educational workers, and state employees, we especially need you to weigh in!
TALKING POINTS
Here are some ideas for things you can discuss in the testimony:
- Fear of this law overreaching our constitutional First Amendment rights
- Additional obstacles and hardships that employees of the state and institutions run by it will experience
- How suppressing social transition does not help youth but instead actively harms them
HOW DO I SUBMIT A WRITTEN TESTIMONY?
- Write a letter to the Committee. Be respectful.
- You cannot submit testimony on someone else’s behalf.
- Keep it concise and on-topic.
- Do not include any personal information that you do not want made public.
- Submitted testimonies must be in a PDF format.
For SB 63: Submit your written testimonies to Public.Health.Welfare@senate.ks.gov no later than January 27 at 8:30 AM!
For HB 2071: Submit your written testimonies to Health.Human.Services@house.ks.gov no later than January 27 at 10:00 AM!
HOW DO I SUBMIT AN ORAL TESTIMONY?
- For SB 63: Email Public.Health.Welfare@senate.ks.gov no later than January 26 at 8:30 AM to indicate that you would like to speak. Tell her that your testimony will be in opposition to SB 63 and whether you will deliver it in-person or virtually.
- For HB 2071: Similar premise, but email Health.Human.Services@house.ks.gov no later than January 26 at 1:30 PM. You will also need to turn in five hard copies by January 27 at 10:00 AM. Check Equality Kansas’ Facebook page for a link to help print out & turn in these copies.
- Submit a written testimony as a PDF file to the same email no later than January 27 at 8:30 AM for SB 63 or 10:00 AM for HB 2071.
- Do not read directly from your testimony. The Committee already has copies of it. Prepare something else to read or say. Be concise and on-topic.
- Be respectful. Address the Committee as “Madame Chair and Committee members.” Thank them for letting you speak.
RULES FOR HEARINGS
- Phones and any other devices must on silent.
- You cannot record any of the meeting. All committee meetings are filmed and uploaded to YouTube after the meeting is finished.
- Be quiet.
If you do not follow these rules, you will be removed from the hearing.
Trans Lawrence Coalition 
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