Abortion rights backers block ‘trigger’ law in Nebraska 

Abortion supporters were able to secure a victory in Nebraska by throwing off a bill that would have automatically outlawed abortion in the state if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns the 1973 ruling made in Roe v. Wade.

The vote taken on Wednesday frustrated pro-life groups, who typically are successful in fights over the issue in the more conservative Legislature.

So far, over a dozen conservative states have passed similar measures already, but abortion rights supporters in Nebraska were able to block it using a filibuster in their Legislature, which is unicameral.

The bill’s supporters only needed two more votes to hit the 33 benchmark they needed to bring the filibuster to a close and force a vote. The 31-15 tally left the proposal practically dead for the remainder of the year, even though a majority of the lawmakers were in favor of the measure. 

In 2010, the state became the first to ban abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy, and the state further outlawed a second-trimester abortion procedure in 2020 even though legislators faced serious backlash from pro-abortion advocates.

The most recent bill, though, has faced a more difficult path due to the current composition of the Legislature, as Republicans are just one seat short of the supermajority they would need to overcome filibusters. 

“We envision a Nebraska where every life is celebrated and protected,” commented state Sen. Joni Albrecht, the sponsor of the bill.

Supporters have consistently held that the majority of Nebraska voters find themselves in opposition of abortion based on who is consistently elected in the state. But critics of that view have characterized the bill as an intrusion on feminine autonomy.

“In state by state, legislatures are taking a sledgehammer to women’s freedom,” said state Sen. Anna Wishart.