LINCOLN- A legislative bill that sought to repeal Nebraska’s 2023’s combo abortion and gender care law is dead this year, at the introducer’s request. Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh introduced LB879 to allow the public to weigh in further on LB574. That bill enacted a 12-week abortion ban tied to gestational age and charged the state’s chief medical officer to write regulations on care primarily targeted to transgender youths. The law also prohibits transition surgeries before age 19.

Lawmakers voted 30-2 Thursday to withdraw LB 879. Instead, the Health and Human Services Committee, of which Cavanaugh is a member, has requested a briefing with Tesmer on the proposed final rules and regulations. Temporary rules and regulations have been in place since Oct. 1, and the final proposal cleared the State Board of Health last week.

The requested briefing is for Thursday, Feb. 29, at 1 p.m. The briefing would be public, but the public could not speak as they can at bill hearings. It is currently unclear whether Dr. Timothy Tesmer will agree to attend the public hearing. The rules go to the offices of Attorney General Mike Hilgers and Gov. Jim Pillen for a final say.

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