Kansas Revokes Transgender Driver's Licenses

Kansas has invalidated the driver's licenses of approximately 1,700 transgender residents in February 2026, following a new state law that retroactively cancels previously updated gender markers. This action makes Kansas the first U.S. state to implement such a retroactive measure, impacting individuals who had legally changed their gender on state identification documents since 2007. The law also invalidates birth certificates with updated gender markers.

The legislation, which defines sex as male or female assigned at birth, was passed by the Republican-held state Legislature in January 2026, overriding a veto by Democratic Governor Laura Kelly. Affected individuals have received notices stating their documents are "invalid immediately" and requiring them to obtain new licenses reflecting their birth-assigned sex to avoid penalties.

The law additionally includes provisions prohibiting transgender individuals from using public restrooms aligning with their gender identity.

Two anonymous transgender residents filed a lawsuit against Kansas last month, alleging violations of state protections for personal autonomy, privacy, equality, due process, and freedom of speech. Douglas County District Judge James McCabria declined to issue a temporary restraining order against the law, citing insufficient evidence of immediate harm.

This development follows a 2023 law redefining sex and a subsequent legal challenge by Attorney General Kris Kobach, which initially allowed gender marker changes to resume before the new legislation was enacted.