We are watching debate this week on the budget, specifically LB 1011. Originally, the Governor outlined restrictions of state funds used for “research, adoption, drafting or implementation of state sex education standards” by the Nebraska Department of Education. The Appropriations Committee omitted this line item before providing the budget to the full legislature, but a senator has an amendment to add it back in.
Inclusive, equitable health education is in alignment with the Nebraska State Board of Education’s Nondiscrimination and Equitable Educational Opportunities in Schools position statement. We support the Department of Education’s development of effective health education standards that allow for trained teachers to create a network of caring adults and provide a protective school environment for all students. We remain committed to advocating for high-quality, effective health education, including sex education, that will help all students navigate sexual development, protect their health and plan for their futures.
Additional Priority Bills Impacting Gender Justice
✅ LB 121 – eliminates the lifetime ban on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility for individuals with certain previous convictions (Introduced and Prioritized by Senator Megan Hunt). This bill addresses food insecurity by removing the ban on access to SNAP for people with felony drug convictions.
✅ LB 1009 – introduced by Senator Tom Brandt with a plan to amend it on to LB 741 as AM 2177, establishes a domestic abuse death review team to bring together experts and those with lived experience to review cases, examine trends and contributing factors to create recommendations for changes to help prevent future deaths. For more information, see our fact sheet (English / Spanish).
✅ LB 1246 – provides survivors of sexual assault and sex trafficking with anonymity (Introduced by Senator Patty Pansing Brooks and Prioritized by the Speaker). This bill, which advanced to final reading last week, will prevent the disclosure of identifying information and protect victims from further harm. For more information, see our fact sheets (English / Spanish).
❌ LB 933 – bans abortions if Roe v Wade is overturned by the Supreme Court (Introduced by Senator Joni Albrecht and Prioritized by Senator Mike Hilgers). While anti-abortion politicians see this an opportunity to push safe abortion care out of reach, advocates showed up in force during the committee hearing to demand access to safe abortion care. Everyone deserves the right to decide if, when and how to start a family.
❌ LB 1086 – restricts access to medication abortion (Introduced by Senator Suzanne Geist and Prioritized by Senator John Lowe). Medication abortion has gained broad acceptance from patients and medical providers across the US. The growing popularity of this decades long FDA-approved method has been targeted by anti-abortion politicians seeking to restrict care. We cannot allow further restrictions to stand in the way of women and the health care they need.
REMINDER! You are the Second House in Nebraska. Your voice and input are critical in shaping legislation. Contact your senator. Speak up for gender and racial equity. Make it impossible to be ignored!
It’s time to get loud!