After days of passionate and fiery debate, the Nebraska Legislature voted Thursday (3/23) to advance a bill limiting gender-affirming health care to individuals under the age of 19. A motion to send the bill back to committee failed, and the bill advanced for a second round of debate 30-17.
Several lawmakers made threats to filibuster the rest of the legislative session if the bill advanced. State Senator Machaela Cavanaugh had been leading a filibuster for the same reasons for the 3 weeks of the session.
Senator Megan Hunt of Omaha revealed on the floor that this bill has personal ramifications for her, as she is the mother of teenage son who is transgender. She said she would consider the passage of this bill to be “bridges burned” with her republican colleagues, then calling them out by name.
The bill was brought forth by Republican Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha. It would adopt the Let Them Grow Act into state law, which would restrict the gender-affirming therapies such as hormone treatments, puberty blockers and gender reassignment surgery for those under the age of 19.
Kauth has said the goal of the bill is to protect youth from receiving these treatments which they could regret as adults. Citing potential negative health affects that could result from under studied procedures.
The bill has advanced to a second round of debate, which is also must survive before making it to the final third voting round. Republican Gov. Jim Pillen has said he will sign the bill into law if/when it reaches his desk.