Update 4 p.m.
TOPEKA — Republicans in the Kansas Legislature have narrowly failed to override Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto of a bill to require doctors to tell patients that medication abortions can be stopped after the first of two pills.
The Senate voted 27-13 Wednesday with no votes to spare to override the veto. But the vote in the House was 82-43, two short of the two-thirds majority needed for an override.
Kelly said the bill is an unwarranted intrusion between patients and their doctors.
Abortion opponents say such measures ensure that women harboring doubts about ending their pregnancies will learn that they can stop a medication abortion after the first of two pills. Abortion-rights supporters say such mandates force doctors to present patients with dubious information.
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The Kansas Senate has overridden Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto of a bill requiring abortion providers to tell patients about a disputed treatment to stop a medication abortion after it’s been started.
The vote Wednesday was 27-13, just the two-thirds majority needed.
The House would vote next, possibly Wednesday, and appears to have the two-thirds majority needed to override the veto.
Kelly said the bill is an unwarranted intrusion between patients and their doctors.
Abortion opponents say such measures ensure that women harboring doubts about ending their pregnancies will learn that they can stop a medication abortion after the first of two pills. Abortion-rights supporters say such mandates force doctors to present patients with dubious information.
Arkansas, Arizona, Idaho, Utah, South Dakota, North Dakota and Kentucky all have similar laws.
