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Laura Kelly on Abortion

 

 


Oppose telling parents medication abortion may be reversible

HB2264: Requiring notification to patients that the effects of a medication abortion may be reversible.

Summary in ACLU-KS 2023 Legislative Update: HB 2264, a bill that not only requires abortion providers to promote state sponsored misinformation about mifepristone--the abortion pill--but would create criminal penalties up to the level of a personal felony for failure to do so.

Veto Message in Kansas Reflector, April 19, 2023: "Kansans made clear that they believe personal health care decisions should be made between a woman and her doctor, not politicians in Topeka," Kelly said. "This bill would interfere with that relationship and, given the uncertain science behind it, could be harmful to Kansans' health."

Legislative Outcome:Vetoed by Governor Laura Kelly on Apr/19/23; House overrode veto 84-40-1 on Apr/26/23; Senate overrode veto 29-11-0 on Apr/27/23.

Source: ACLU-KS and Kansas Reflector on voting records HB2264 , Apr 19, 2023

Endorsed by Planned Parenthood

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Laura Kelly won endorsement of a four-state Planned Parenthood organization in the wake of an increasingly bitter attack from a Democratic rival regarding dedication to preserving legal abortion. Kelly made abortion a campaign issue by repeatedly blasting Democratic candidate Josh Svaty for voting 11 times in support of anti-abortion legislation while a member of the Kansas House.
Source: Topeka Capital-Journal on 2018 Kansas gubernatorial race , Jul 12, 2018

Allow D&E abortion (dilation and evacuation)

Legislative Summary: SB95: The bill prohibits the performance of or the attempt to perform a dismemberment abortion unless the procedure is necessary to preserve the life of the pregnant woman or a continuation of the pregnancy would cause a substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function.

Analysis by Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas doctors will be banned from performing a procedure used in 8% of the state's abortions. The legislation bans so-called dismemberment abortions, prohibiting the use of dilation and evacuation--techniques that can result in parts of the fetus being severed apart. About 600 abortions are performed in the state annually using the procedure. Kansas is the first state to ban the procedure.

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 31-9-0 on Feb/20/15; State Sen. Laura Kelly voted NO; Passed House 98-26-1 on Mar/25/15; Signed by Governor Sam Brownback on Apr/7/15.

Source: Topeka Capital-Journal analysis: Kansas voting records SB95 , Feb 20, 2015

Opposes tightening parental consent laws

Legislative Summary: HB 2035 requires parental consent for abortions involving minors; and expands abortion reporting requirements. The term "fetus" in the law is changed to "unborn child," and a new definition of "human being" is added. Informed consent [will] require the additional statement that the abortion will terminate the life of a whole, separate, unique living human being.

Analysis by ThinkProgress.org: HB 2035 would require parental consent for anyone under 18 to have an abortion. Current law requires that one parent be notified, but neither parent can veto a daughter's abortion. Unsatisfied with tightening parental control, the GOP included provisions that allow family members to sue doctors and force women to agree that they're terminating a human being.Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 24-15-1 on Mar/23/11; State Sen. Laura Kelly voted NO; Passed House 100-22-3 on Mar/29/11; Signed by Governor Sam Brownback on Apr/27/11

Source: ThinkProgress.org analysis of Kansas HB 2035 voting records , Mar 23, 2011

Don't restrict late term and partial birth abortions

SB218: AN ACT concerning abortion; regarding restrictions on late term and partial birth abortion:

NationalPartnership.org article on bill sponsor: According to Rep. Lance Kinzer (R), the debate over abortion rights should continue in the state because some laws aimed at restricting abortion access are not being enforced properly. Kinzer pushed legislation (S.B. 218) to strengthen the state's restrictions on abortions performed later in pregnancy.

A.P. in Taiwan News on veto message: Sebelius argued that doctors could have faced criminal prosecution even if they tried to comply with the law. She said that would "lead to the intimidation of health care providers & reduce access to comprehensive health care for women, even when it is necessary to preserve their lives and health."

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 82-43-0 on Apr/3/2009; Passed Senate 25-11-4 on Apr/3/2009; State Sen. Laura Kelly voted NO; Vetoed by Governor Sibelius on Apr/23/2009

Source: Associated Press on Kansas legislative voting record SB218 , Apr 3, 2009

Other governors on Abortion: Laura Kelly on other issues:
KS Gubernatorial:
Chase LaPorte
Cindy Holscher
Derek Schmidt
Jeff Colyer
Ty Masterson
Vicki Schmidt
KS Senatorial:
Jerry Moran
Joan Farr
Mark Holland
Michael Soetaert
Patrick Schmidt
Roger Marshall

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Page last updated: Apr 01, 2026; copyright 1999-2022 Jesse Gordon and OnTheIssues.org