Anti-Trans Bill Hearings, What You Need to Know

State Sen. Kauth opened this year’s legislative session by introducing three bills targeting transgender Nebraskans’ access to public spaces and health care. All three bills will have separate hearings in the last week of January. Strong public testimony can help allied state senators stop these harmful bills while sending a message to trans Nebraskans and their loved ones that these bills don’t represent who we are or what we want for our neighbors.

• The Government, Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee will hold an afternoon hearing on LB 730, a bill that prohibits trans people from accessing restrooms and locker rooms that match their gender in publicly-owned buildings. The hearing is in room 1507. Capitol staff may set up an overflow room depending on turnout.

• Join the ACLU of Nebraska, OutNebraska, Rainbow Parents, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska, Nebraskans for Peace and other friends in the rotunda at 12:15 p.m. for a press event calling on senators to stop the bans. Signs will be provided.
• The Judiciary Committee will hold an afternoon hearing on LB 731, which creates new liability for medical providers offering safe, evidence-based care. We expect medical professionals to oppose this bill, and are asking community members to focus on LB 732.
• The Health and Human Services Committee will hold an afternoon hearing on LB 732, which outlaws access to hormones and puberty blockers for Nebraskans under the age of 19, building on past legislation and regulations that have already pushed care out of reach for Nebraska families. The hearing will take place in room 1510. Capitol staff may set up an overflow room depending on turnout.

Each hearing will follow annotated committee guidelines, meaning they operate a little differently from normal hearings. Hearings begin at 1:30 p.m., and senators will first hear from the introducer, then invited supporters, and finally an hour of community supporters. Opponents (that’s us) may not start until 3:30 p.m. or a little later. There will be several invited opponents and an hour of community opponents then time for any neutral testifiers before the committee switches back to supporters. The cycle continues from there. Annotated hearing guidelines include other requirements. For example, all testifiers will need to pass through a metal detector and may have their bags searched.

Our friends at Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska offer an excellent resource walking you through the process. Here are a few things to keep in mind.

First, posters and props are not allowed in the hearing room and in general, no signs over 11” x 17” are allowed in the Capitol. If you are attending Thursday’s press event, please return your poster to ACLU staff or plan to leave it outside the hearing room.

If you are bringing written testimony, consider printing copies for the committee. The legislature’s site recommends 15 copies just to be safe.

Once you arrive, find a green testifier sheet and fill out your name, stance, the bill #, and the organization you represent, if applicable. Green testifier sheets will be in the hearing room and overflow room. Be prepared to hand your sheet to the committee clerk upon testifying. There will also be gold non-testifier attendee sheets if you simply wish to record your opposition to the bill but cannot testify or do not want to.

In annotated hearings, testimony is limited to three minutes. In general, we recommend a flow like this:

1. Introduce yourself and your position on the bill: “Good afternoon, Chairperson [name] and members of the committee. My name is [say name, then spell name], and I am here to speak in opposition to LB [bill number].”
2. Say why you oppose the bill. Consider sharing a personal story or specific experience that inspired you to testify. Remember that you are the expert on your own story, and that senators want to hear unique perspectives.
3. Finish your testimony by thanking the committee and asking them again to oppose the bill.

A light system helps you stay on track. Yellow signals that you have a minute left. At red, you should stop immediately, even mid-sentence. Senators will appreciate you respecting the time limit, and may ask you to complete your thoughts.

Want to be heard but facing an accessibility-related challenge? You may qualify for submitting ADA written testimony.

One final note: we encourage testifiers to be courteous and respectful, even when some lawmakers are not extending the same treatment to our community. Our goal is to change hearts and minds. How we show up may shape media coverage and impact swing votes.

If you are not planning to testify in person, you can submit online comments for the public hearing record on each of the bill’s pages up until 8 A.M. the morning of its hearing: LB 730, LB 731, LB 732. Be sure to verify your comment by clicking through the email you receive from “Nebraska Legislature” after submitting your comment.

Whether you are planning to testify or not, each email and call helps. Our action form makes it easy to send a message to your state senator and remind them that Nebraska is for all of us.