Judge throws out lawsuit against Nebraska’s bans on abortion, gender-affirming surgeries

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A judge on Friday dismissed a challenge to Nebraska’s new law restricting abortion and gender-affirming health care.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska had sued over Legislative Bill 574, arguing that it violated the single-subject rule of the state constitution.

But Lancaster County District Judge Lori A. Maret said the Nebraska Supreme Court has interpreted that rule liberally.

She pointed to a ruling from 1962 that said a bill must have “one general object, no matter how broad.”

“Applying this liberal standard, the Court concludes that the general object of L.B. 574 is health care and that all parts of L.B. 574 are relevant to health care.”

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The ACLU said it plans to appeal the decision.

“We strongly disagree with the court’s conclusion,” Executive Director Mindy Rush Chipman said in a statement. “State senators combined unrelated restrictions into a single bill in their rush to take away Nebraskans’ rights.”

The case stems from the past legislative session, when lawmakers filibustered a proposed six-week abortion ban.

Abortion opponents then added a less strict ban to the Let Them Grow Act, a bill banning gender-affirming surgeries for minors.

That bill passed 33-15 in May and was signed by Gov. Jim Pillen.

Its 12-week abortion ban, which includes exceptions for rape, incest and medical emergencies, went into effect immediately.

The gender-affirming surgery ban goes into effect Oct. 1.