From Mississippi to Texas, and now Nebraska, legislators across the country are working hot on the heels of a recent Supreme Court decision regarding abortion bounties that some believe signaled a willingness by the Supreme Court to potentially overturn Roe v Wade.
“The Supreme Court improperly took this issue away from Nebraska, the legislature, the people. Nebraska is a pro-life state, the law should reflect our pro-life values,” said Senator Joni Albrecht of District 17.
Albrecht is one of three senators introducing pro-life legislation and herself has introduced what could be the most restrictive bill, LB933, a trigger bill that would completely ban abortions in Nebraska should Roe v Wade be overturned.
The other pieces of pro-life legislation will affect Nebraskans regardless of any potential Supreme Court decision.
LB1086, introduced by Senator Suzanne Geist of District 25, would set a standard of care regarding chemical abortions and would ban any chemical abortion after seven weeks.
The other bill, LB781 introduced by Senator Julie Slama of District 1, follows the lead of states like Mississippi in implementing a ban on all abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected. Heartbeats can usually be heard around six weeks into a pregnancy and often occurs long before a woman knows if she is pregnant.
“We often hear about the emotion parents feel when they hear a heartbeat on an ultrasound for the first time. We know when we hear that sound that we are listening to the rhythm of life of a tiny human being in her earliest moments,” said Slama.
While the senators shared they have received numerous messages of support since introducing their bills, not everyone feels the restrictive legislation is good for Nebraskans.
“We are laser focused on stopping these bills in the legislature because we know they fall hardest on Nebraskans trying to make ends meet. Young Nebraskans, Nebraskans of color and people who live in rural areas. Bottom line is however we feel about abortion, Nebraskans should be able to make their own decisions about what is best for their families,” said Scout Richter, legal and policy counsel for the Nebraska ACLU.
Some of the trios fellow senators are speaking out against the bills as well.
Senator Megan Hunt of District 8, a staunch pro-choice advocate, said in a tweet on Monday that it's time to be bold and fight back, highlighting three bills she has introduced that would allow abortions to be covered by insurance, allow ARPNs and midwives to provide abortion services, and eliminate bans on telemedicine for medication abortions.
Despite a battle brewing over the bills, Slama said she was confident the legislation could successfully make its way into law.
“I am proud to have two women behind me right now who were successfully able to overcome a filibuster to pro-life legislation in Nebraska over the last two years. I am proud to stand with them and I am confident the legislators decisions will reflect the overwhelming opinion of Nebraskans that we are a pro life state,” said Slama.