Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen signs abortion, gender-affirming care bans into law
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Gov. Jim Pillen signed the Let Them Grow Act, which includes a 12-week abortion ban, into law on Monday.
Pillen signed Legislative Bill 574, which was introduced by Sen. Kathleen Kauth, at the State Capitol around 12:30 p.m.
He was joined by several state senators, including Kauth, Julie Slama and Joni Albrecht.
“We believe in protecting our kids, making sure that they — parents and kids — don’t get duped into the silliness that if you do this, you’re going to become happy,” Pillen said. “That is absolutely Lucifer at its finest.”
The bill bans gender-affirming surgery for minors. And it also includes a 12-week abortion ban, which was added to the bill just three days before it was passed.
Some senators have said the bill is unconstitutional because of the abortion amendment.
The state’s constitution says a bill can only cover one topic.
And a UNL law professor said this bill is about two things.
“Remember that both of these bills originated as separate pieces of legislation,” Anthony Schutz said. “In other words, they both contained one subject on to themselves when they existed at the outset of the legislative session.”
But Pillen said both issues are about protecting kids.
“I would say, the people that are arguing that need to go back and just study history,” Pillen said. “This is not the first time this has ever happened by a long ways.”
Schutz said if some organization decides to go forward with litigation, a final decision might come down to the State Supreme Court.
The abortion ban goes into effect on Tuesday. The gender-affirming health care ban goes into effect on Oct. 1.
SEE ALSO: Nebraska Legislature passes abortion, gender-affirming surgery bans
