LGBTQ+ FOSTER PARENTS AND CHILDREN ARE UNDER ATTACK!

What is HB 2311?

This bill prohibits the Kansas foster care system from maintaining any policy that explicitly protects LGBTQ+ foster parents and children.

What this means it that foster parents cannot be mandated to respect an LGBTQ+ foster children’s identity and that prospective foster parents cannot be denied a placement due to their anti-LGBTQ+ beliefs.

Similar Laws

This bill is similar to SB 284, which Kansas passed in 2018. SB 284 allows religious foster care agencies to refuse to place children with queer foster parents.

HB 2311 goes further by not only permitting foster care parents to discriminate against and abuse LGBTQ+ foster children, but prohibits the state from implementing policies to protect them from this.

Wait, abuse?

Yes, abuse. The bill explicitly protects foster care parents who “intend to guide” a foster child to adhere to their anti-LGBTQ+ beliefs. Considering that conversion therapy is not illegal in Kansas, this could have substantial impacts.

Hearing Information

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17
1:30 PM
ROOM 152-S

• Deadline for oral testimony: Friday, February 14 at 1:30 PM
• Deadline for written testimony: Sunday, February 16 at 1:30 PM

Format

Opposition Testimony for HB 2311
For the House Committee on Child Welfare and Foster Care
February 17th, 2025
Your First and Last Name

Chair Howerton and Members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to provide opponent testimony on HB 2311.

[Add your personal statement here]

Submit to:

Child.Welfare@house.ks.gov

• If you want to speak in person, you must let them know by 1:30 PM on February 14!
• All testimonies — oral or written — must be submitted in PDF format.