Kansas Cities Amended Conversion Therapy Bans
Roeland Park and Prairie Village updated local laws following pressure from the state's attorney general.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Law
Live Poll
Should your local government prioritize First Amendment protections over banning specific medical therapy practices?
Roeland Park and Prairie Village modified their existing conversion therapy bans during the third quarter of 2026. The cities amended the ordinances to comply with legal demands issued by Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach.
Why it matters
The changes followed a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Chiles v. Salazar, which found similar restrictions unconstitutional based on First Amendment protections against viewpoint discrimination. Kansas officials argued the original city laws infringed on these free speech freedoms.
Kansas cities faced a 60-day deadline to revise their ordinances to ensure therapists lack predetermined outcomes for clients. The state successfully pressured Roeland Park and Prairie Village to remove language identified as viewpoint discrimination.
The players
Kris Kobach
He serves as the Attorney General of Kansas and led the legal challenge against the municipal conversion therapy bans.
Roeland Park
This Kansas city located in Johnson County was among the first to amend its ordinance in response to state demands.
Prairie Village
This municipality in Johnson County updated its 2021 conversion therapy ban to align with state-requested legal standards.
Lawrence
This city in Douglas County is preparing to evaluate its existing ordinance following the recent state-level legal pressure.
The details
The amendments require that therapists maintain no predetermined results during client sessions, effectively removing previous restrictions that the state argued constituted viewpoint discrimination. While Roeland Park and Prairie Village have already completed these revisions, the Lawrence City Commission is currently preparing for future deliberations on its own 2021 ban.
Timeline
Roeland Park enacted its initial conversion therapy ban in 2020.
Prairie Village and Lawrence enacted their respective bans in 2021.
The Kansas Attorney General sent demand letters to cities in Summer 2026.
The Prairie Village City Attorney addressed the City Council in September 2026.
The Lawrence City Commission is scheduled to discuss ordinance changes in the upcoming months.
Political Context
The amendments to Kansas city ordinances followed the precedent established by the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Chiles v. Salazar. The cities updated their local laws to align with the constitutional standards for First Amendment freedoms established by this ruling.
Residents in these cities will see changes to how local conversion therapy regulations are enforced as officials remove viewpoint-based restrictions. The Lawrence City Commission's future deliberations will determine if the legal standards applied in Johnson County will also impact the rules in Douglas County.
The takeaway
Cities across Kansas are shifting their regulatory approach to therapy services to avoid potential litigation regarding free speech. Local governments are now prioritizing neutral therapist outcomes to ensure their ordinances remain consistent with current Supreme Court interpretations.
Further reading
For more information on state legislative updates, visit Kansas Law.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Kansas City Star.
Live Poll
Should your local government prioritize First Amendment protections over banning specific medical therapy practices?
