Kansas Invalidates Thousands of Trans Residents' IDs

New law requires reversing gender changes on driver's licenses and birth certificates

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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Kansas has passed a new law that will invalidate about 1,700 driver's licenses held by transgender residents and roughly as many birth certificates. The law prohibits documents from listing any sex other than the one assigned at birth and invalidates any that reflect a conflicting gender identity. This goes beyond restrictions in other states and requires reversing changes previously made for trans residents.

Why it matters

This law is part of a broader effort by Republican lawmakers across the U.S. to roll back transgender rights. It sends a message that transgender people are not welcome in Kansas and will make it harder for them to live in the state. Transgender people have said carrying IDs that misgender them can open them up to harassment and even violence.

The details

The new Kansas law takes effect on Thursday. Democratic Governor Laura Kelly vetoed the measure, but the Republican-controlled legislature overrode the veto. Kansas officials expect to cancel about 1,700 driver's licenses and issue new birth certificates for up to 1,800 people. Transgender people will have to pay $26 each to get a new standard license.

  • The new law takes effect on Thursday, February 23, 2026.
  • In 2023, Republicans in Kansas halted changes to birth certificates and driver's licenses by legally defining male and female by a person's 'biological reproductive system' at birth.
  • Last year, a lawsuit led to state court decisions that permitted driver's license changes to resume in Kansas.

The players

Laura Kelly

The Democratic governor of Kansas who vetoed the measure, but was overridden by the Republican-controlled legislature.

Chase Blasi

The Republican Kansas Senate Majority Leader who said the law shows voters want to 'return to common sense' on gender.

Abi Boatman

A Democratic state representative in Kansas who is a transgender Air Force veteran and said the law shows Republicans are interested in being 'on the vanguard of the culture war.'

Anthony Alvarez

A transgender University of Kansas student who works for a pro-LGBTQ rights group and said the law is 'making it harder and harder for me to live in the state that I love.'

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What they’re saying

“It tells me that Kansas Republicans are interested in being on the vanguard of the culture war and in a race to the bottom.”

— Abi Boatman, Democratic state representative (wbal.com)

“When I go home, people believe there are just two sexes, male and female. It's basic biology I learned in high school.”

— Chase Blasi, Republican Kansas Senate Majority Leader (wbal.com)

“They're just making it harder and harder for me to live in the state that I love.”

— Anthony Alvarez, Transgender University of Kansas student (wbal.com)

What’s next

Kansas officials expect to begin notifying transgender residents by mail that their driver's licenses are no longer valid and they need to go to a local licensing office to get a new one.

The takeaway

This law in Kansas is the latest in a broader effort by Republican lawmakers across the U.S. to roll back transgender rights, sending a message that transgender people are not welcome. It will make daily life harder for transgender Kansans, who may face harassment or violence when showing IDs that misgender them.