Legislation would allow voters to decide abortion rights in Nebraska Constitution
LINCOLN — One day after proposed abortion restrictions faced a hiccup in legislative support, a Nebraska lawmaker made the case Thursday for voters to determine whether abortion protections should be enshrined in the State Constitution.
Legislative Resolution 18CA and LR 19CA, both proposed by State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha, would put the question to voters in 2024 if approved by the Legislature.
LR 18CA would add “reproductive freedom” to Article 1, Section 1 of the Nebraska Constitution as one of the “inherent and inalienable rights.” In Nebraska, that includes life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness and the right to keep and bear arms.
LR 19CA would add Section 31 to Article 1, stating that each individual has a “fundamental right” to reproductive freedom, including all matters relating to pregnancy. The amendment states specifically: prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, contraception, sterilization, abortion care, miscarriage management and infertility care.
In addition, the state could not penalize, prosecute or otherwise take adverse action on actual, potential, perceived or alleged pregnancy outcomes.
Hunt said she offered two options to allow the Legislature to decide what course of action to present to voters.
https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/03/16/legislation-would-allow-voters-to-decide-abortion-rights-in-nebraska-constitution/
