LINCOLN, NE — Today, Independent Women’s Voice applauds the Nebraska state legislature for passing Legislative Bill 89, a multi-year legislative victory inspired by Independent Women’s Stand With Women model legislation. In advancing this measure, the legislature recognizes the interests of its constituents and the importance of Governor Jim Pillen’s executive order.
In 2023, Governor Pillen signed the EO based on Independent Women’s Stand With Women model legislation that defines common sex-based terms, legally protects female-only spaces, and requires biologically accurate sex-based data collection. Nebraska became the fourth state to adopt Independent Women’s sex definitions and protect nearly one million women in the state. Today, 15 other states have enacted the language to prevent the erasure of women’s rights, with Texas soon to make 16 states. The Texas legislature passed the measure, HB 229, yesterday, sending the bill to Governor Greg Abbott’s desk.
While Pillen’s executive order signed these protections into law, LB 89, introduced by Sen. Kathleen Kauth, provides additional legal standing, codifying the definition of “woman” into Nebraska law and protecting necessary single-sex spaces and women’s sports.
By listening to their constituents, the legislators who voted in favor of the Stand with Women Act affirm the 73% of American women voters who believe gender identity and biological sex are different.
By passing LB 89, the Nebraska legislature:
- Defines sex-based terms such as “female,” “male,” “woman,” and “man” into law; and
- Protects single-sex spaces, including sports, locker rooms, and prisons, according to biological sex, for the sake of women’s safety.
Independent Women’s Voice previously submitted multiple testimonies in support of the Stand with Women Act.
Independent Women Legal Advisor Beth Parlato said: “The passage of LB 89, the Stand With Women Act, marks a pivotal moment in Nebraska’s commitment to safeguarding the rights, safety, and opportunities of women and girls. This legislation ensures that female athletes can compete on a level playing field and that public spaces remain secure and safe for the protection and integrity of all Nebraskans. I commend the leadership of Governor Jim Pillen and Senator Kathleen Kauth for their unwavering dedication to these common-sense protections.”
Sen. Kathleen Kauth, original sponsor of LB 89, said: “While I’m very pleased that we were able to protect Women’s athletics with LB89 and extraordinarily grateful for the conservatives who voted for the bill (no Democrats voted to protect women’s athletics), it is disappointing that to secure the vote we were required to remove the locker room and bathroom portion. I consider those critical to ensuring Women’s privacy and safety, and will bring a bill next year addressing that issue.”
Hannah Holtmeier, an Independent Women sorority ambassador, May graduate at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Westenbroek v. Kappa Kappa Gamma plaintiff, said: “Thank you to Senator Kauth and the many co-sponsors of the Stand with Women Act for prioritizing pro-woman legislation this session. I am so thrilled that Nebraska lawmakers have joined other state legislatures in codifying protections for women under the law. Women and girls in Nebraska and every state deserve protection to the fullest extent of the law. I look forward to celebrating Governor Pillen’s signing the Stand with Women Act soon.”
In addition to Nebraska, Kansas, Tennessee, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Alabama, Iowa, Indiana, West Virginia, Wyoming, South Dakota, Montana, and Georgia—have all adopted laws inspired by Independent Women’s Stand With Women model, positively affecting the lives of over 40 million women and girls.
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Independent Women fights for women by expanding support for policy solutions that aren’t just well-intended, but actually preserve and advance opportunity and well-being.
