Nebraska governor bans abortion and gender transition for minors

Nebraska Republican Governor Jim Pillen signed a bill into law Monday banning both gender transition surgeries on minors and abortion after 12 weeks of pregnancy.

The bill called Let Them Grow was initially focused on preventing anyone under the age of 19 from undergoing gender-reaffirming surgery and restricting the use of hormone or puberty-blocking treatments in children, designating the state medical director as the person in charge of establishing the rules for these types of therapies.

However, the legislative proposal was expanded and integrated abortion restrictions through an amendment introduced by State Senator Ben Hansen. Now, the legislation also prohibits abortion if you are more than 12 weeks pregnant. The law has exceptions for rape, incest or emergency cases where abortion is necessary to save the mother's life.

"All children deserve a chance to grow and live happy, fruitful lives. This includes pre-born boys and girls, and it includes children struggling with their gender identity. These kids deserve the opportunity to grow and explore who they are and want to be, and they can do so without making irreversible decisions that should be made when they are fully grown," said the governor after signing the measure.

Following the Pillen decision, the abortion ban went into effect immediately. However, October 1 is the effective date for the measure banning transgender procedures.

Nebraska is now part of a group of nearly two dozen states that have enacted laws restricting or banning transgender treatment on minors.