LINCOLN- On Tuesday, Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers released a legal opinion disputing two of the top concerns surrounding Sen. Albrecht's LB626, which would prohibit abortions after six weeks of pregnancy or after embryonic cardiac activity is detected. Hilgers and Solicitor General Eric Hamilton, who drafted the opinion together, stated that doctors would not be charged with a crime in Nebraska if they meet the proposal's six-week window or provide care in the hopes of protecting the life of the mother.

"Exceptions apply to both the post-viability and 20-week bans," they wrote, "The Act does not amend these statutes or any other provisions in the Nebraska Criminal Code." Despite this, Sen. John Cavanaugh, an attorney, argued that a separate section of state law, which could be changed by LB626, could be utilized to criminally prosecute doctors who perform abortions outside of the stipulated parameters.

Other opponents of the bill, including Sen. Jen Day, have argued that the vagueness by which LB626 is written could be read to require the reporting of rape to law enforcement. Sen. Merv Riepe introduced an amendment that would shift the six-week ban to twelve weeks, a compromise some opponents are willing to consider.

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