LINCOLN, Neb. - A bill that would restrict transgender Nebraskans’ rights and access to spaces in schools and state agencies is one step closer to becoming law. Today, state senators narrowly overcame a filibuster with the 33 votes needed to end debate and then advanced LB 89.
The bill will reach the governor’s desk and become law if it clears two more rounds of debate. During debate, Sen. Merv Riepe shared that his support on the bill’s second-round vote would be contingent on whether senators adopt a new amendment he introduced today.
Today’s vote follows a February hearing where opponents outnumbered supporters almost 6-to-1. An American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska staff member was among the more than 100 Nebraskans who testified live against the bill.
Over the last few months, hundreds of ACLU supporters from across the state have contacted their state senators to urge them to oppose LB 89.
ACLU of Nebraska Executive Director Mindy Rush Chipman made this statement on today’s vote:
“Everyone should have the right to live as their authentic self,” Rush Chipman said. “It is deeply disappointing that a majority of senators voted to advance a bill that targets transgender and nonbinary Nebraskans, especially youth, for simply being who they are. We thank the state senators who have strongly opposed this discriminatory effort, and we will continue to support their efforts to stop this bill. This is just the first round, and we are not giving up or backing down. We will keep working with our communities to remind lawmakers that Nebraska is for all of us.”
It is unclear when LB 89 will face its second round of debate. The legislative session is scheduled to end in early June.
How Senators Voted:
No : 16
Bostar, DeBoer, Hunt, Quick, Cavanaugh, J., Dungan, Juarez, Raybould, Cavanaugh, M., Fredrickson, McKinney, Rountree, Conrad, Guereca, Prokop, Spivey
Yes : 33
Andersen, Dorn, Kauth, Sorrentino, Arch, Dover, Lippincott, Storer, Armendariz, Hallstrom, Lonowski, Storm, Ballard, Hansen, McKeon, Strommen, Bosn, Hardin, Meyer, von Gillern, Brandt, Holdcroft, Moser, Wordekemper, Clements, Hughes, Murman, Clouse, Ibach, Riepe, DeKay, Jacobson, Sanders.
