OMAHA, NEBRASKA—Nebraska State Sen. Joni Albrecht today filed a pull motion to revive LB 933, which would ban all abortions in the absence of federal abortion protections.
Commonly called a “trigger law,” this effort is one of three anti-abortion measures introduced by lawmakers this session. Yesterday the Judiciary Committee voted 5-3 against advancing all three of these bills. Sen. Albrecht’s motion to pull the bill out of committee and onto the floor for a vote is an attempt to override the committee’s vote. The pull motion itself will be debated and voted on in the coming days. If it is successful, the bill will be “pulled” to general file for debate and a vote.
“Banning abortion is dangerous. It harms Nebraskans and takes away their reproductive freedom to choose if and when to have or expand a family,” said Andi Curry Grubb, Executive Director for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska. “Abortion is currently safe and legal here, and most Nebraskans support it. It’s clear Nebraska politicians intend to take away constituents’ fundamental rights. Now is the time for Nebraskans to stand up and tell their lawmakers they will not tolerate having their reproductive health care jeopardized by reckless restrictions to abortion.”
The trigger ban comes 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 and 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 a Texas six-week 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.
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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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