Nebraska Legislature Passes Sports Ban

LINCOLN, Neb. - A ban on transgender youth playing school sports has been signed into law.

State senators narrowly overcame a filibuster to pass LB 89 in late May. Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen signed the bill in June.

Introduced on behalf of the governor, the legislation began as a broader bill that banned trans youth from participating in sports, restricted trans Nebraskans’ access to restrooms, and mandated that state agencies functionally ignore the existence of trans Nebraskans. After State Sen. Merv Riepe said he would only support the sports restrictions, state senators amended the bill to limit its focus to athletics.

ACLU of Nebraska Executive Director Mindy Rush Chipman made this statement after the bill's passage:

“Every young person deserves the freedom to be themselves at school,” Rush Chipman said. “This ban sends a crushing message to young trans Nebraskans and slams the door shut for some kids to fully participate in their school communities. And for what? This ban will only create problems, not solve any. We encourage Nebraskans to thank the state senators who opposed LB 89. Likewise, we all should be voicing concerns to the governor and the senators who supported this discriminatory ban. Nebraska is for all of us. The constant targeting of LGBTQ+ Nebraskans must stop.”

Trans youth interested in playing sports in Nebraska were already impacted by a federal ban. The Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA) announced in February that it would comply with President Trump’s executive order restricting transgender students’ participation in sports.

LB 89 is one of more than 580 bills introduced across the country seeking to restrict LGBTQ+ people’s rights in state legislatures this year according to an ACLU bill tracker. Roughly half of those bills involve restrictions on schools or students.