Nebraska bill to ban transgender students from the bathrooms and sports of their choice advances
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/nebraska-bill-to-ban-transgender-students-from-the-bathrooms-and-sports-of-their-choice-advances/ar-AA1Dq6OD?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=b575ce1cc4684cdcc0a87b98cb8d7d2f&ei=116
Story by MARGERY A. BECK (23 April 2025)
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska bill that would bar transgender students from bathrooms, locker rooms and sports teams that correspond with their gender identity has advanced from the first of three rounds of debate — but with a caveat.
Sen. Merv Riepe, who helped tank an effort to pass a similar bill last year, agreed Tuesday to provide the 33rd vote needed to break a filibuster against the bill. But only if the bill's sponsor agrees to support his amendment to remove language that would ban bathroom and locker room use, leaving only the ban on sports participation. That amendment will be introduced in the next round of debate, Riepe said.
"They've agreed to it," Riepe said of the bill's main sponsors. "They know if they don't, I'll kill it in the next round."
This year, the measure gained the vocal backing of Republican Gov. Jim Pillen, who placed it among his legislative priorities for the year, and the bill was rebranded as the "Stand With Women" act.
Opponents argued that the bill is discriminatory and targets a population already vulnerable to bullying and abuse.