The Nebraska legislature handed a contentious bill on Friday, implementing a 12-week abortion ban and restrictions on gender-affirming look after minors.
Nebraska’s new abortion ban, its first because the U.S. Supreme Court docket overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling final yr, reduces the state’s present abortion restrict from round 20 weeks of being pregnant to 12 weeks, with exceptions for rape, incest, and instances the place supply might pose a threat to the lifetime of the mom.
The invoice additionally restricts transgender youths underneath 19 from receiving gender-confirming surgical procedure. The state’s chief medical officer will set up guidelines for puberty blockers and hormone therapies, with some exceptions for minors already present process therapy.
Some lawmakers voiced considerations within the instant aftermath of the invoice’s passage. Senator Michaela Cavanaugh, whose catchphrase is #Don’tLegislateHate, tweeted:
State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh invokes God in opposition to LB574, a invoice proscribing abortion and transgender well being care within the Nebraska Legislature. pic.twitter.com/9lPj2TYHIT
— Nebraska Public Media Information (@NebPubMediaNews) May 19, 2023
The passage of the invoice follows a controversial merging of the abortion limits with the transgender well being invoice, a transfer that has been criticized as underhanded by progressive lawmakers. Regardless of the controversy, the invoice will take impact instantly as soon as signed by the governor as a consequence of an hooked up emergency clause.
