LINCOLN- After months of constant filibuster and debate, the Nebraska Legislature on Friday passed LB574, a bill that would ban gender-affirming care for minors and abortions in the state after 12 weeks. At the end of an emotional and, at times, raucous day, 33 senators voted to shut down the filibuster and advance the bill. The bill has an emergency clause attached to it, and will take effect just a day after it is signed into law by Gov. Jim Pillen.

When signed, gender-affirming surgeries for individuals under the age of 19 will be outlawed in Nebraska, and the Chief Medical Officer will be required to develop regulations regarding puberty blockers and hormone therapy, a move some argue is politically driven, since the Chief Medical Officer is appointed by the governor. However, transgender youth who have already begun gender-affirming care treatments before October 1 will be allowed to continue them.

As amended earlier this week, the bill also bans abortions after 12 weeks gestational age, which is marked from a woman's last menstrual period, meaning about 10 weeks after fertilization. Opponents, however, raised concerns over the amendment, arguing that it doesn't include language regarding fetal anomalies, and did not remove criminal penalties from state statute. An amendment introduced by Sen. Lynne Walz would have changed the 12-week gestational age to 12 weeks post-fertilization, as well as added language about "fetal anomalies incompatible with life," but was not considered on Friday.

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