The Nebraska Legislature passed a bill Friday to ban abortions after the 12th week and restrict gender-transition treatments for minors.
In a 33-15 vote, Nebraska’s unicameral body sent the bill to Governor Jim Pillen (R.), who has promised to sign it into law. The abortion restriction would go into effect immediately after Pillen’s signature, while the limits on gender transition would go into effect on October 1.
Legislative Bill 574 allows for exceptions to the 12-week rule in cases of medical emergency, sexual assault, and incest. It also provides that “no woman upon whom an abortion is attempted, induced, or performed shall be liable for a violation.”
The legislature had initially considered a six-week ban, but that measure failed, leading to closed-door negotiations.
The new limits on gender transition also went through a similar process. An earlier bill would have barred minors from receiving puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgeries. After debate and further negotiations, the legislature decided to ban only surgeries and to instruct the state’s chief medical officer to promulgate regulations under which puberty blockers and hormone therapy may be administered to people younger than 19.
“You can portray this bill any way you want,” said Senator Tom Briese (R.), as quoted by the Omaha World-Herald. “But for me, this bill is simply about protecting kids.”
The governor concurred with this description of the bill.
“All children deserve a chance to grow and live happy, fruitful lives. This includes pre-born boys and girls, and it includes children struggling with their gender identity. These kids deserve the opportunity to grow and explore who they are and want to be, and they can do so without making irreversible decisions that should be made when they are fully grown,” Pillen said in a written statement.
Democrats have voiced their opposition to the measures and promised to continue filibustering nearly every bill through the end of this year’s session and even into next year’s. “Until the end of the 108th Legislature, I’ll be filibustering,” said Senator Machaela Cavanaugh (D.).
Protesters gathered outside the chamber on Friday and, as is becoming a common refrain among opponents of such measures, chanted “Shame!”