LINCOLN, NEBRASKA—Nebraska legislators today advanced a bill on second reading that would divert as much as $500,000 next year in taxpayer money to fund anti-abortion clinics—fake women’s health centers that use false and deceptive practices to lure vulnerable Nebraskans through their doors—through the use of tax credits. The program would be capped at $1 million in subsequent years.
Anti-abortion centers do not provide actual medical care and lack any meaningful state or federal medical oversight. Because they are not legitimate medical providers, they are not bound by data privacy laws like HIPAA. Instead, they use false and misleading tactics to lure pregnant people through their doors. They present themselves as actual health care professionals, putting vulnerable people’s health in danger. Their only goal is to prevent people from having abortions through their propaganda.
The program would be administered by the Nebraska Department of Revenue. The legislation fails to outline minimum standards or provide adequate oversight. And it doesn’t require anti-abortion centers provide medically accurate information. The measure also does nothing to protect patient privacy.
“Let’s be clear—this legislation does nothing to increase Nebraskans’ access to essential health care at a time when our state faces multiple barriers to health care,” said Andi Curry Grubb, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska. “Instead, it puts their health in danger by funding fake clinics that don’t provide actual medical care, despite their white coats and ultrasound equipment. What’s worse is anti-abortion centers heavily target already marginalized communities that struggle to access health care. They are sold as a solution to poor birth outcomes and lacking prenatal and postpartum care by politicians who want to outlaw abortion. Nebraskans already face significant barriers in accessing health care—they don’t need more roadblocks. The future of Nebraskans’ health is at stake.”
The measure would add Nebraska to a rapidly growing list of states that want to use taxpayer dollars—whether through direct funding or tax credits—to prop up anti-abortion centers since the fall of Roe in 2022. In 2023 alone, GOP led majority legislatures in 12 states passed $250 million in funding for anti-abortion centers, according to the Guttmacher Institute.
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Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit organization. As the advocacy and electoral arm of PPNCS, we mobilize supporters of all parties to defend and increase access to family planning services and fact based, medically accurate sexuality education. We work to inspire and engage citizens to take up the cause of reproductive health and rights through education, electoral activity, grassroots organizing and legislative advocacy.
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