The 2026 Kansas Legislative Session was consequential in the fight for civil liberties, and the ACLU of Kansas was under the dome for voting rights, criminal legal reform, immigration, free speech, and other fundamental protections. While the session produced a mixed set of outcomes, several key victories reminded us the impact of sustained advocacy and underscored the importance of everyday Kansans showing up.

Attacks on voting rights, continuing from previous years, dominated much of the session. Representative Pat Proctor, Chairman of the House Committee on Elections, introduced 17 of these attacks, reflecting a concerted effort to reshape voting in Kansas and perpetuate myths of widespread voter fraud and noncitizen voting. Of these, eight passed the House and two passed the Senate as standalone bills before being bundled together in a last-second push to get them across the finish line. Ultimately, three bundled bills were vetoed, two of which were successfully sustained.

However, the governor’s veto of one significant measure, House Bill 2437, was overridden. This law expands methods for purging voter rolls, permits the use of the SAVE database to verify voter eligibility, mandates that state agencies share data on certain non-citizens receiving benefits with the Secretary of State, and imposes new restrictions on third-party voter registration efforts. Despite this setback, the successful defense of three other vetoes prevented additional restrictive measures from becoming law, preserving access to the ballot for countless Kansans.

The so-called SAVE Kansas act will require that more than ever, Kansas voters know their rights.

The legislature also chipped away at justice and equity in the state through proposals targeting the juvenile legal system and attempts to impose mandatory minimum bond amounts and stricter detention practices. One bill aimed to limit the use of own-recognizance (OR) bonds, a key tool in reducing wealth-based disparities in pretrial detention. The ACLU of Kansas team was proud to push for a veto of this measure, and importantly, help ensure that the veto was sustained.

Preserving access to OR bonds is a critical step in addressing the two-tiered system of justice that disproportionately impacts low-income individuals across the state.

Another major concern this session was House Substitute for Senate Bill 244, a bill targeting transgender Kansans. This legislation enforces a restrictive definition of gender based on sex assigned at birth and requires government-issued identification documents to reflect that designation. It also functions as a bathroom ban, limiting access to facilities consistent with an individual’s gender identity. These provisions raise serious constitutional and civil rights concerns, particularly those regarding privacy, equal protection, and transgender individuals’ ability to safely participate in public life. The legislature hurried to override the governor’s veto early in the session, in lawmakers’ ongoing prioritization of targeting trans Kansans instead of issues affecting all Kansans.

That’s why we joined the national ACLU LGBTQ+ Project, and within just days of the bill taking effect, the legal team sued.

Following national trends, immigration was at the center of policy debates this session. Despite earning a veto, House Bill 2372 ultimately became law after the legislature overrode the Governor’s decision. This sweeping measure allows sheriffs to enter into harmful agreements with federal immigration authorities without local oversight, validates detainer requests without requiring a judicial warrant, and includes provisions such as the HALO Act, which restricts how closely observers can monitor law enforcement activity. This bill also places financial liability on Kansas taxpayers in cases of officer misconduct leading to lawsuits. These changes raise serious concerns about accountability and the erosion of local control.

Amid these challenges, there was a meaningful victory for immigrants in Kansas: the successful defense of in-state tuition access for undocumented students. Because the veto was sustained on a bill that threatened this policy, students who have attended Kansas high schools can continue to pursue affordable higher education opportunities within the state.

In total, our team urged vetoes on eight harmful bills, earning seven vetoes. While three were overridden, four were successfully sustained: three related to election laws and one to criminal legal reform. These outcomes highlight both the persistence of legislative threats to civil liberties and the tangible impact of coordinated advocacy in protecting fundamental rights. Throughout legislative session and beyond, the ACLU of Kansas remains steadfast in defending the civil liberties of every Kansan, challenging threats wherever they arise and working to ensure that freedom, fairness, and dignity are not just ideals, but realities protected under the law.