Nebraska amendments would guarantee reproductive rights, including abortion

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Two constitutional amendments that would protect access to abortion here in Nebraska will be considered at the State Capitol this Tuesday.

According to the legislative agenda, Sen. Megan Hunt is trying to get the amendments referred to the Judiciary Committee.

As with a bill aimed at banning abortions after six weeks, the amendments were originally referred to the Health and Human Services Committee.

Hunt wants to move these amendments, as the HHS Committee is conservative-leaning.

That’s one of the reasons she was also behind a push to refer the Nebraska Heartbeat Act to the Judiciary Committee, which is more politically balanced.

That legislation has since advanced and is headed to the floor for debate.

Opponents say since it would criminalize most abortions, the bill never belonged in the HHS Committee in the first place.

The amendments Hunt is trying to get moved would guarantee a right to make decisions about all matters relating to pregnancy.

That includes abortions, miscarriages, infertility, prenatal care and postpartum care.

The amendments would also prohibit the state from taking adverse action against anyone who assists a pregnant woman exercising those rights.