Nebraska senator introduces 'heartbeat' abortion ban, teeing up legislative fight

On the first day of the 2022 legislative session, Nebraska lawmakers wasted no time diving into one of the most contentious political mires of the moment: abortion.

Sen. Julie Slama (R) of Sterling introduced a bill (LB781) that would ban abortions after a so-called fetal heartbeat is detected.

Meanwhile, Sen. Megan Hunt (D) of Omaha, who has pledged to fight any bans, introduced two bills to expand abortion access.

Slama’s bill would require that physicians, before they perform an abortion, do an ultrasound and see whether they can detect a fetal "heartbeat.” A fetal heartbeat is defined in the bill as “cardiac activity or the steady and repetitive rhythmic contraction of the fetal heart within the gestational sac.”

Read more: https://journalstar.com/news/local/nebraska-senator-introduces-heartbeat-abortion-ban-teeing-up-legislative-fight/article_fb60b06e-ccc0-5ff3-8633-4c042bdb65f8.html
(Lincoln Journal Star)