OutNebraska is committed to fighting for the rights of LGBTQ+ Nebraskans, and that includes advocacy in the state legislature! We’re tracking a number of bills that impact the lives of our community members.
Quick Links:
- How a Bill Becomes a Law
- Engaging With the Nebraska Legislature
- Writing Testimony for the Unicameral | Quick Guide
- Find Your Senator
- Nebraskans for Abortion Access
- Nebraska Public Media Livestream
Speak Out Nebraska: Recap on 6/6
As part of our coverage, we’re hosting Speak Out Nebraska, our virtual event series to gather and discuss the 2023 session. Join the meeting or watch the recordings to see what’s happened this session.
Watch the first event (start of session).
Watch the second event (halfway through session).
Join us for our recap discussion (end of session).
Quick Snapshot
Priority Bills
These bills that have priority status are generally considered ahead of other bills in debate. Each senator may select one priority bill, each committee may select two priority bills, and the speaker may select up to 25 priority bills.
✅ SUPPORT LB307 by Sen. Hunt, Megan
⌠OPPOSE LB626 by Sen. Albrecht, Joni
⌠OPPOSE LB277 by Sen. Hardin, Brian
⌠OPPOSE LB574 by Sen. Kauth, Kathleen
⌠OPPOSE LB575 by Sen. Clements, Robert
⌠OPPOSE LB810 by Sen. Murman, Dave
Defeated Bills
Hearing Held on Wednesday, February 1, at 1:30pm CST in room 1510
⌠OPPOSE LB626 – Bans Nebraskans from seeking abortions starting at 6 weeks. Doctors performing abortions could lose their license. Follow ACLU of Nebraska, I Be Black Girl, Nebraska Abortion Resources, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska, and Women’s Fund of Omaha for more! [Albrecht, Joni; Health and Human Services Committee]
Note: Though LB626 was defeated, an amendment banning abortion at 12 weeks was added to LB574.
Bills Passed
Hearing Held on Wednesday, February 8, at 1:30pm CST in room 1510
⌠OPPOSE LB574 – “Let Them Grow Act†bans families of transgender youth from seeking medically-sound, affirming healthcare by punishing doctors who provide care. A last-minute effort to ban abortion also added a 12-week abortion ban to this bill. See our statement on the passage of LB574. [Kauth, Kathleen; Health and Human Services Committee]
Bills Placed on General File
These are bills in their first stage in which senators debate the bill. Many consider this the most crucial stage because general file is where most compromises are made.
What Can I Do?
Hearing Held on Wednesday, February 8, at 1:30pm CST in room 1507
⌠OPPOSE LB277 – “First Freedom Act†creates a license to discriminate. Overly broad language would allow religious organizations and individuals to circumvent nondiscrimination laws. [Brewer, Tom; Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee]
Hearing Held on Thursday, February 9, at 1:30pm CST in room 1113
✅ SUPPORT LB307 - Provides opportunities each Nebraska community to authorize Syringe Services Programs (SSPs) to battle the rise in HIV and Hepatitis infections. Syringe Services Programs are community-based prevention programs that provide a range of services, including linkage to substance use disorder treatment, access to and disposal of sterile syringes and injection equipment, vaccination, testing, and linkage to care and treatment for infectious disease. Follow Nebraska AIDS Project for more! [Hunt, Megan; Judiciary Committee]
Hearing Held on Tuesday, February 14, at 1:30pm CST in room 1525
✅  SUPPORT LB630 – Protects natural hairstyles and religious garments in schools. Have the state board of education implement a policy for schools that allows students to wear natural hairstyles, religious attire (like hijabs, headscarves), tribal regalia, and traditional clothing from another country/culture. [McKinney, Terrell; Education Committee]
Bills Waiting in Committee
These are bills who have had their hearing but have not yet progressed onto General File for consideration by the full legislature.
What Can I Do?
Hearing Held on Wednesday, March 22, at 1:30pm CST in room 1113
✅  SUPPORT LB89 – Allow for surrogate parenthood. Repeals a section of Nebraska law that prohibits surrogacy. Helps families who are not able to become pregnant on their own, including couples struggling with infertility and gay couples. [Hunt, Megan; Judiciary Committee]
Hearing Held on March 1, at 1:30pm CST in room 1113
✅ SUPPORT LB169 – LGBTQ+ Employment Nondiscrimination. Add sexual orientation and gender identity to employment protections. [Hunt, Megan; Judiciary Committee]
Hearing Held on Wednesday, March 1, at 1:30pm CST in room 1510
✅  SUPPORT LB179 – Prohibit the practice of conversion therapy on minors. (Conversion therapy – practice of trying to change someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity. It does not work.) [Fredrickson, John; Health and Human Services Committee]
Hearing Held on Wednesday, March 1, at 1:30pm CST in room 1113
✅  SUPPORT LB316 – Updates language relating to spouses on a marriage license application to be gender neutral. [Fredrickson, John; Judiciary Committee]
Hearing Held on Friday, March 24, at 1:30pm CST in room 1113
⌠OPPOSE LB371 – Criminalizes drag shows and transgender performers. Make it a crime for people under 19 to be present at “drag performancesâ€. “Drag performance†broadly defined to include any time someone is wearing clothing/presenting as a different gender than gender assigned at birth and is “performing before an audienceâ€. Creates criminal penalties and $10,000 fine for people attending a “drag performance†with a minor, show organizers, and venue owners. Would affect any performance including a transgender person. [Murman, Dave; Judiciary Committee]
Hearing Held on Tuesday, January 31, at 1:30pm CST in room 1525
⌠OPPOSE LB374 – Parents’ Bill of Rights and Academic Transparency Act. Facilitates curriculum censorship, book banning, and unnecessary education overreach; largely attempts to re-create policies that are already in place in schools across Nebraska. [Murman, Dave; Education Committee]
Hearing Held on Tuesday, February 14, at 1:30pm CST in room 1525
✅ SUPPORT LB487 – State money to schools comes with nondiscrimination requirement. Prohibit any school in Nebraska receiving public funds from discriminating on the basis of race, color, religious, national origin, ancestry, citizen status, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or special education status. [Hunt, Megan; Education Committee]
Hearing Held on Monday, February 13, at 1:30pm CST in room 1525
⌠OPPOSE LB575 – “Sports and Spaces Act†bans transgender youth from playing school sports and ban transgender youth from using restrooms or locker rooms they feel most comfortable in. [Kauth, Kathleen; Education Committee]
Hearing Held on Monday, February 13, at 1:30pm CST in room 1524
✅ SUPPORT LB670 – Expands Nebraska Fair Employment Practice Act. Prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation and prohibit discrimination by employers regardless of size. Closes employment discrimination loophole – small businesses under 15 employees must follow nondiscrimination law. [Hunt, Megan; Business and Labor Committee]
Hearing Held on Friday, February 10, at 9:30am CST in room 1510
⌠OPPOSE LB810 – “Medical Ethics and Diversity Act†creates a license to discriminate. Extremely broad language to circumvent nondiscrimination laws. Allow any medical or mental health professional to refuse to treat any patient for any “ethical, moral, or religious†reason. Allow any medical payer (employers and insurance) to refuse to pay for any medical service/medication for any “ethical, moral, or religious†reason. [Murman, Dave; Health and Human Services Committee]
Hearing Held on Wednesday, March 1, at 1:30pm CST in room 1113
✅  SUPPORT LR26CA – Constitutional amendment to remove same sex marriage ban in Nebraska. If passed by Legislature, it would go to voters to approve. [Day, Jen; Judiciary Committee]
Bills with Upcoming Hearings
These bills have scheduled hearings which have not occurred yet.
What Can I Do?
All bills have had their hearings.
Bills Awaiting Hearings
These are bills without hearings scheduled. Every bill gets a hearing in Nebraska, it’s just a matter of “when.â€
What Can I Do?
All bills have had their hearings.
Stay Tuned for Updates!
We will be keeping this page up to date about where bills are in the process. Check back for updates!
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