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Nebraska Legislature

All articles tagged with #nebraska legislature

education-government-and-politics1 year ago

"Nebraska Legislature's Struggles with Gender Restrictions"

The Nebraska Legislature fell two votes short of advancing the Sports and Spaces Act, which aimed to define K-12 school bathrooms and sports teams based on students' sex at birth. The bill's introducer, State Sen. Kathleen Kauth, expressed plans to reintroduce the measure in 2025 and address concerns raised by other senators. The failed vote effectively ends the bill for the year, with Speaker John Arch stating there is not enough time for further action. The proposal faced opposition from lawmakers questioning its enforcement, financial implications, and potential discrimination against transgender youth.

politics2 years ago

New Abortion Cutoff Proposal Lacks Exception for Fetal Anomalies.

Nebraska State Senator Ben Hansen has proposed a stricter abortion ban that would outlaw abortions at 9 to 10 weeks after fertilization, two weeks sooner than the previous proposal by State Senator Merv Riepe. Hansen's proposal would also restrict certain gender-affirming healthcare for trans minors and does not include an exception for fetal anomalies, which would mean fewer choices for parents who discover that a developing fetus might be incompatible with life outside the womb. Doctors who support abortion rights argue that it is cruel to force women to carry a baby to full term, knowing it cannot survive, while others believe that challenging pregnancies deserve to be protected and valued.

politics2 years ago

Nebraska approves permitless concealed carry.

The Nebraska Legislature has approved a bill that would allow Nebraskans aged 21 and older to carry concealed weapons without a permit. The bill, sponsored by State Sen. Tom Brewer, includes a compromise with the Omaha Police Union. The amendment would create a new crime for concealed carry owners who commit dangerous misdemeanors. The bill will now head to Gov. Jim Pillen's desk, where he's expected to sign it into law.

politics2 years ago

Nebraska Legislature Advances Controversial Let Them Grow Act and Gender-Affirming Care Ban.

Nebraska lawmakers were slow to move business on Friday as State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh continued her filibuster over a bill to ban gender-affirming care for minors. Cavanaugh accused some of her colleagues of making their vote on LB574 about her and not the issue. The bill's sponsor, State Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha, has said she's willing to negotiate, but Cavanaugh and some other senators have questioned whether there have been true efforts to do so. There is one more shot to reach a compromise before the third and final vote.

politics2 years ago

Nebraska Governor Appoints Controversial New Lawmaker Amid Filibuster Fight.

Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen has appointed Carolyn Bosn to replace Suzanne Geist in the Nebraska Legislature. Geist resigned from her position to focus on her mayoral campaign. Bosn, a former deputy county attorney, will serve the remainder of Geist's term representing District 25 in the Legislature. She has expressed support for a bill that would prohibit women from seeking an abortion if cardiac activity is detected in the fetus. Bosn intends to seek a full four-year term to the seat in the 2024 elections.

politics2 years ago

Nebraska Senator Cavanaugh pauses filibuster on trans bill.

A Nebraska lawmaker who had been filibustering every bill before the legislative body for weeks to protest a bill that would ban gender-affirming therapies for minors has paused her filibuster in a deal that will see lawmakers debate the bill next week. The bill would outlaw gender-affirming therapies such as hormone treatments and gender-affirmation surgery for those 18 and younger. If the bill advances, the lawmaker will resume filibustering every bill for the remainder of the session. The Nebraska bill and another that would ban trans people from using bathrooms and locker rooms or playing on sports teams that don’t align with the gender listed on their birth certificates are among roughly 150 bills targeting transgender people that have been introduced in state legislatures this year.

politics2 years ago

Nebraska Senator ends 3-week filibuster over anti-trans bill.

State Senator Machaela Cavanaugh has agreed to end her filibuster after an agreement was reached with the Nebraska Legislature. The Let them Grow Act, which prohibits gender-altering procedures for individuals under 19, will be debated on Tuesday. Supporters of the bill say it protects children from making permanent decisions too early in life, while opponents argue it is a form of genocide against Nebraska's LGBTQ children. Cavanaugh previously called on the 23 co-sponsors to remove their names from the bill and launched her filibuster in protest.

politics2 years ago

"Nebraska Legislature in Turmoil Over Anti-Trans Bill Filibuster"

State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh compared a bill that would ban gender-affirming therapies for those under age 19 to the genocide of trans youth, leading to a dispute with Sen. Julie Slama who moved to censure Cavanaugh. Speaker John Arch said Slama's motion would not be taken up, and debate continued. Nebraska lawmakers have advanced only 26 bills to the second round of debate, prompting Arch to plan for day and night work later this month to get more bills considered.