2 weeks Ago
Debate over a controversial bill dealing with the handling of abortion remains will extend to a second day as the first day of floor debate reached an unconventional end Monday evening. Hansen LB632, introduced by Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair, would require health care facilities to bury or cremate the remains of elective abortions.
Opponents argued the bill was a "backdoor attempt" to ban abortion. The bill is currently facing a filibuster, which will require 33 votes to overcome. With roughly 25 minutes left before the vote, Republicans narrowly voted to adjourn for the day, knowing that the bill would be a few votes short of advancing as several supporters were not present.
The adjournment went against a request from Speaker of the Legislature John Arch, who asked senators to vote down the motion to adjourn to remain consistent with the precedent set on prior filibusters this session. People are also reading..
. Abortion has been a hot topic in Nebraska for years, but fervor on the issue grew after the U.S.
Supreme Court overturned the landmark abortion ruling Roe v. Wade, giving states the authority to regulate the procedure. In November, voters passed a ballot initiative that solidified the state's 12-week abortion ban into the Nebraska Constitution.
Ashlei Spivey Sen. Ashlei Spivey of Omaha, who led the filibuster against LB632, noted that before the initiative passed, supporters marketed it as a compromise and promised they would not pursue more restrictions afterward. But Spivey argued LB632's true intent is to increase the burden on accessing abortion care to make it nearly impossible for providers to offer it.
Hansen claimed the bill's intent was not to impact abortion access or increase the negative stigma about abortion. He said LB632 seeks to address what he sees as a public health risk, and is about preserving human dignity. Hansen and other LB632 supporters made various claims about how abortion remains have been dealt with in areas with little or no regulations.
Sen. Dan Lonowski of Hastings, who made LB632 his personal priority for the session, claimed remains have been bought and sold to laboratories for experimentation, or even used to produce electricity. "It is crucial to start affirming the humanity of the unborn in the law," Lonowski said.
"Fetal dignity laws help shape a culture that honors and respects the unborn by acknowledging their humanity and affirming the dignity of each life lost through abortion." Hansen and Spivey disagreed on how state law addresses abortion remains. While Hansen claimed the process for dealing with abortion remains is a blind spot in state law, Spivey disputed that abortion clinics already comply with policies set by Nebraska's Department of Environment and Energy.
Spivey further argued that LB632 specifically pertaining to elective abortions proves that the intent is to increase the stigma against abortion. Otherwise, she said Hansen would have structured the bill to cover all pregnancy tissue. Opponents offered a range of arguments against LB632, including that it would be prohibitively expensive, impose a religious requirement in state law, and could inadvertently restrict other forms of reproductive care like in vitro fertilization.
Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha argued the bill wasn't bolstered by law or facts. "When the law is on your side, you pound on the law.
When the facts are on your side, you pound on the facts. And when neither is on your side, you pound on your desk," Cavanaugh said. "I feel like there's a lot of desk pounding going on.
" Several critics raised concerns with the ambiguous language in the bill creating problems in the courts. Sen. George Dungan of Lincoln said it would be difficult for a judge to determine what constitutes a violation of the law, and Sen.
Megan Hunt of Omaha posited the bill could open the door to politically motivated lawsuits against abortion clinics. It's unclear whether LB632 will have the 33 votes necessary to overcome the filibuster when debate resumes Tuesday morning. It would require all 33 Republicans in the body to vote in support, Republican Sen.
Merv Riepe of Ralston raised concerns with the measure during Monday's floor debate. Riepe, who was a deciding vote against previous abortion restrictions, said he doesn't believe the bill is necessary under existing state law. He suggested an amendment that would leave the choice up to each woman as to how her abortion remains are dealt with, which Hansen said he mostly supports.
Measles fears; regents remove DEI; Journal Star Super State Meet Nebraska state senators making laws in 2025 District 49 Bob Andersen Omaha Elected 2024 402-471-2725 [email protected] District 14 John Arch La Vista Elected 2018, 2022 402-471-2730 jarch@leg.
ne.gov District 18 Christy Armendariz Omaha Elected 2022 402-471-2618 [email protected].
gov District 21 Beau Ballard Lincoln Appointed 2023, elected 2024 402-471-2673 [email protected] District 25 Carolyn Bosn Lincoln Appointed 2023, elected 2024 402-471-2731 cbosn@leg.
ne.gov District 29 Eliot Bostar Lincoln Elected 2020, 2024 402-471-2734 [email protected].
gov District 32 Tom Brandt Plymouth Elected 2018, 2022 402-471-2711 [email protected] District 9 John Cavanaugh Omaha Elected 2020, 2024 402-471-2723 jcavanaugh@leg.
ne.gov District 6 Machaela Cavanaugh Omaha Elected 2018, 2022 402-471-2714 [email protected].
gov District 2 Robert Clements Elmwood Appt. 2017, elected 2018, 2022 402-471-2613 [email protected].
gov District 37 Stanley Clouse Kearney Elected 2024 402-471-2726 [email protected] District 46 Danielle Conrad Lincoln Elected 2022 402-471-2720 dconrad@leg.
ne.gov District 10 Wendy DeBoer Bennington Elected 2018, 2022 402-471-2718 [email protected].
gov District 40 Barry DeKay Niobrara Elected 2022 402-471-2801 [email protected] District 30 Myron Dorn Adams Elected 2018, 2022 402-471-2620 mdorn@leg.
ne.gov District 19 Robert Dover Norfolk Appointed 2022, elected 2024 402-471-2929 [email protected].
gov District 26 George Dungan Lincoln Elected 2022 402-471-2610 [email protected] District 20 John Fredrickson Omaha Elected 2022 402-471-2622 jfredrickson@leg.
ne.gov District 7 Dunixi Guereca Omaha Elected 2024 402-471-2721 [email protected].
gov District 1 Bob Hallstrom Syracuse Elected 2024 402-471-2733 [email protected] District 16 Ben Hansen Blair Elected 2018, 2022 402-471-2728 bhansen@leg.
ne.gov District 48 Brian Hardin Gering Elected 2022 402-471-2802 [email protected].
gov District 36 Rick Holdcroft Bellevue Elected 2022 402-471-2642 [email protected] District 24 Jana Hughes Seward Elected 2022 402-471-2756 jhughes@leg.
ne.gov District 8 Megan Hunt Omaha Elected 2018, 2022 402-471-2722 [email protected].
gov District 44 Teresa Ibach Sumner Elected 2022 402-471-2805 [email protected] District 42 Mike Jacobson North Platte Appt.
2022, elected 2022 402-471-2729 [email protected] District 5 Margo Juarez Omaha Elected 2024 402-471-2710 mjuarez@leg.
ne.gov District 31 Kathleen Kauth Omaha Appt. 2022, elected 2022, 2024 402-471-2327 kkauth@leg.
ne.gov District 34 Loren Lippincott Central City Elected 2022 402-471-2630 [email protected].
gov District 33 Dan Lonowski Hastings Elected 2024 402-471-2712 [email protected] District 41 Dan McKeon Amherst Elected 2024 402-471-2885 dmckeon@leg.
ne.gov District 11 Terrell McKinney Omaha Elected 2020, 2024 402-471-2612 [email protected].
gov District 17 Glen Meyer Pender Elected 2024 402-471-2716 [email protected] District 22 Mike Moser Columbus Elected 2018, 2022 402-471-2715 mmoser@leg.
ne.gov District 38 Dave Murman Glenvil Elected 2018, 2022 402-471-2732 [email protected].
gov District 27 Jason Prokop Lincoln Elected 2024 402-471-2632 [email protected] District 35 Dan Quick Grand Island Elected 2024 402-471-2617 dquick@leg.
ne.gov District 28 Jane Raybould Lincoln Elected 2022 402-471-2633 [email protected].
gov District 12 Merv Riepe Ralston Elected 2022 402-471-2623 [email protected] District 3 Victor Rountree Bellevue Elected 2024 402-471-2627 vrountree@leg.
ne.gov District 45 Rita Sanders Bellevue Elected 2020, 2024 402-471-2615 [email protected].
gov District 39 Tony Sorrentino Elkhorn Elected 2024 402-471-2885 [email protected] District 13 Ashlei Spivey Omaha Elected 2024 402-471-2727 aspivey@leg.
ne.gov District 43 Tanya Storer Whitman Elected 2024 402-471-2628 [email protected].
gov District 23 Jared Storm David City Elected 2024 402-471-2719 [email protected] District 47 Paul Strommen Sidney Elected 2024 402-471-2616 pstrommen@leg.
ne.gov District 4 R. Brad von Gillern Elkhorn Elected 2022 402-471-2621 bvongillern@leg.
ne.gov District 15 Dave Wordekemper Fremont Elected 2024 402-471-2625 [email protected].
gov Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter..
