Topeka, Kan.
April 10, 2025 – A supermajority of the Kansas Legislature overrode vetoes of key profamily bills: H.B. 2311 which protects families being compelled to affirm a government belief about sexuality and marriage in order to foster or adopt, H.B. 2062 which includes child support for pregnancy-related expenses and an unborn child tax deduction, and H.B. 2382 which ensured that students learn accurate information about human development.
H.B. 2311, the Adoption Conscience Act simply ensures that the Secretary for Children and Families cannot adopt a policy that requires foster or adoptive families to affirm a government policy regarding sexuality or marriage that violates a sincerely held belief or prohibits that families selection or licensure to foster or adopt. The House voted 87-38 and the Senate 31-9.
H.B. 2062 adds pregnancy-related expenses to the list of factors that a court should consider for child support determinations. Further, a late amendment allows families to take a personal deduction for an unborn child. The final version allows families to claim a deduction if their child was stillborn as well. House voted 87-38 and the Senate 31-9.
H.B. 2382 ensures that students learn accurate information about human development. It states that if a school teaches human development it needs to include at least a three minute video about a child’s development in the womb. The House voted 84-41 and the Senate 31-9.
Brittany Jones, Director of Policy and Engagement, Kansas Family Voice:
“Today, the Kansas Legislature worked together to put families, women, and students first. These common-sense bills affirm that Kansas is a place that still believes that the government shouldn’t compel a family to speak a government message in order adopt or foster, that we recognize there are unique expenses associated with pregnancy, and that students should learn basic biology.
We live in a real world in which families have real expenses that accompany the birth a new child. It is not revolutionary to offset those cost and recognize their child. Further, families should not have to sacrifice religious and moral beliefs in order to care for children in need in our state. Sadly, families have been rejected for their beliefs about sexuality and marriage in Kansas. Now that the Adoption Conscience Act has become law this will not happen to other families.
We are grateful for the work of the House and Senate leadership as well as the committee chairs and carriers of these bills for prioritizing families. Kansans should be proud of the good work their Legislature did this session to promote families.”