Nebraska Legislature Passes Controversial Trans Health Care and Abortion Bill

Nebraska lawmakers have advanced Legislative Bill 574, which seeks to restrict gender-affirming care for transgender youths, with a 12-week gestational abortion ban amendment. The amendment narrows the ban to just surgeries and calls on the state’s chief medical officer to establish regulations on puberty blockers and hormone therapy for youths. The bill had been filibustered for 45 legislative days, and opponents criticized the amendment as a thinly veiled attempt to maintain the full ban of the original bill.