A proposed measure to ban abortion services after 6 weeks of pregnancy has failed to advance to cloture in the Nebraska legislature, Thursday.
LB 626 would adopt the Nebraska Heartbeat Act. This would outlaw abortion services once cardiac activity would be detected in an embryo, which normally occurs around the 6 week period of pregnancy.
The bill was introduced by State Sen. Joni Albrecht. She commonly underlined during debate that her purpose for the bill was to protect children.
The bill, after numerous hours of debate, failed to reach the necessary number of votes to advance to the final reading and subsequent final vote round.
When a cloture vote fails, it mainly delays more debate. Given the limited time left in the legislative session, the bill is not likely to come back up this year. Leaving it possible for next session.
Senator Merv Riepe was expected to be a “yes” vote on the bill. However, Thursday, he introduced an amendment that would strike the 6 week ban and instead put forward a 12 week ban. Riepe is self described as pro-life but said he felt the 6 week proposed ban was a “winner takes all” approach. Riepe voted “present” (essentially a no-vote) when it came time to vote for cloture, rendering the advancement of the bill short by 1 vote. Senator Justin Wayne also voted “present.” Making the final vote 32-15.
Gov. Jim Pillen issued the following statement after the cloture vote failed.
“I am a staunch defender of Life and support of the Nebraska Heartbeat Act,” Pillen said in the release. “I am profoundly disappointed in the cloture vote today. It is unacceptable for senators to be present not voting on such a momentous vote. I call on Senator Merv Riepe to make a motion to reconsider and stand by the commitments to Life he has made in the past.”
This leaves abortion services in Nebraska unchanged from the current 20 week statute.