Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen Signs 12-Week Abortion Ban, Limits On Gender-Affirming Care For Minors

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen (R) signed a bill banning abortion at 12 weeks of pregnancy and limiting gender-affirming care for people younger than 19 — minors according to Nebraska law.

The bill includes exceptions for rape, incest and instances that threaten the life of the mother. It also restricts people under 19 from receiving gender-confirming surgery and taking hormone treatments and puberty blockers.

Pillen is the latest Republican governor to sign legislation that targets reproductive and LGBTQ rights. Before signing the bill, he described it as “the most significant win for social conservative agenda in over a generation of Nebraska.”

The law has received criticism. Mindy Rush Chapman, the head of the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska, criticized the bill in a statement. “The governor’s decision to sign these sweeping restrictions into law betrays a total disregard for Nebraskans’ freedom, health and well-being,” she said.

“Just as we have seen in other states, these bans will result in significant harm, most intensely hurting already vulnerable communities.”

The abortion ban takes effect immediately, while the restrictions on gender-affirming care take effect in October.

Article by Quinn Casey

Quinn Casey is a rising junior at Williams College. He is a political science and studio art double major and leadership studies concentration from Scranton, Pa. He is an political reporting intern. Email: tqc1@williams.edu.