SW News: A Nebraska bill combining a ban on most abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy and restrictions on gender-altering treatment for Nebraskans under 19 is signed into law by Governor Jim Pillen. The Republican Governor, before he signed the law, addressed it as the most significant win for social conservative agenda in over a generation of Nebraska. Pillen said the bill is about protecting kids and saving babies.
Nebraska’s Legislative Bill 574, also known as the Let Them Grow Act, was initially intended to prevent medical professionals from performing gender transition surgery and limit access to hormone and puberty-blocking medicines for anybody under 19. Under a last-minute amendment on May 17, restrictions on most abortions after 12 weeks were made a part of the bill.
The abortion ban will take effect immediately, and the gender reassignment treatment limitations will begin on October 1. The 12-week abortion ban includes exceptions for rape and incest and to save the mother's life, but not for fatal fetal anomalies. It also penalizes doctors who conduct abortions outside the exceptions mentioned.
The bill banning gender-reassignment surgeries for people under 19 also leaves other related treatments under the control of Nebraska’s chief medical officer.
Opponents of the legislation said they would sue it, stating that it totally disregards Nebraskans’ freedom, health, and well-being.
The law took effect three months after a group of lawmakers who support abortion and homosexuality launched a filibuster to block any legislation from advancing in the state's unicameral legislature until a measure banning gender-altering care was withdrawn or until time ran out in the 90-day session. This filibuster, last month, blocked a bill to ban abortion after the heartbeat was detected. So against the backdrop of this, LB 574 was amended to include an abortion ban.
Nebraska is the latest to join at least 18 other states that have passed legislation limiting or outlawing the provision of gender-related medical care to children.