OMAHA, NEBRASKA—Abortion will remain safe and legal in Nebraska. Nebraska state senators voted to block a proposed abortion ban, which would have eliminated abortion in Nebraska is federal protections fall. The vote reflects a significant shift in support for reproductive freedom among Nebraska lawmakers during the past decade.
Commonly called a “trigger law,” LB933 would have banned all abortions in Nebraska if federal protections for abortion are overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court, which could happen as soon as this summer. Senators took the full eight hours of debate on the bill and those trying to ban abortion did not have the votes needed to en debate on the bill.
“Today’s vote to keep abortion safe and legal in Nebraska is a tremendous victory. Over the last decade, we have seen a gradual shift politically in Nebraska toward supporting reproductive freedom,” said Andi Curry Grubb, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska. “We are grateful to every single Nebraskan who stood up to say an abortion ban does not belong in our state. Every person deserves the right to control their body and their futures. These bans go beyond abortion. It’s about who has power over you, who has the authority to make decisions for you, and who can control how your future is going to be.”
The trigger ban was introduced during a time of national uncertainty around federal abortion protections. The U.S. Supreme Court in December heard oral arguments regarding a 15-week ban in Mississippi that directly challenges the protections established by Roe v. Wade almost 50 years ago. The Court is expected to release a ruling this summer. Many expect the court to overrule or gut Roe v. Wade, which would immediately trigger abortion bans like the one proposed in LB933.The Court has also declined to intervene in Texas’ six-week abortion ban that places enforcement in the hands of private citizens.
If the Court erodes or eliminates the federal right to abortion, Nebraska’s 49 state senators would decide the future of abortion access. Abortion in Nebraska is already highly restricted by laws that place burdensome, medically unnecessary requirements on patients and providers. The Guttmacher Institute categorizes the state as hostile to reproductive rights.
“No matter what comes next, Nebraskans have made it clear: We need safe, legal abortion in Nebraska,” Curry Grubb said. “Abortion remains safe and legal in the state, and Planned Parenthood is proud to offer abortion care. Every person and pregnancy is different, and we cannot know all of the factors that go into a person’s decision. We will continue to do everything we can to ensure patients can continue to access the full range of sexual and reproductive health care, including abortion.”
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Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska Action Fund, formerly PP Voters 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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