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Nebraska lawmakers pass bill banning transgender sports participation

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A Lee Enterprises, Incorporated newspaper. Majority shareholder: David Hoffmann, Hoffmann Media Group.

Top Story Breaking

Nebraska lawmakers pass bill banning transgender sports participation

Legislature, 5.28

Rainbow Parents of Nebraska board member Michelle Jud speaks after LB89 is passed on Wednesday at the Capitol.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

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Chris Dunker | Lincoln Journal Star

Nebraska lawmakers took the final step Wednesday toward barring transgender athletes from playing school sports on teams that do not align with the gender assigned to them at birth.

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Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha smiles on Wednesday after passage of her bill (LB89), which bars transgender athletes from playing school sports on teams that do not align with the gender assigned to them at birth.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

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Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha speaks on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at the Capitol.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

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Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha listens as senators on Wednesday debate her bill (LB89), which bars transgender athletes from playing school sports on teams that do not align with the gender assigned to them at birth. The bill passed, 33-16.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

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OutNebraska executive director Abbi Swatsworth speaks in the Rotunda of the Capitol to opponents of LB89 after it passed on Wednesday.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

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A protester is escorted out before the final vote on LB89 on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at the Capitol.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

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Photos: See scenes from a big day in the Legislature as session winds down

Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha smiles on Wednesday after passage of her bill (LB89), which bars transgender athletes from playing school sports on teams that do not align with the gender assigned to them at birth.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

A protester is escorted out before the final vote on LB89 on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at the Capitol.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Rainbow Parents of Nebraska board member Michelle Jud speaks after LB89 is passed on Wednesday at the Capitol.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

People listen as the Legislature debates LB89 on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at the Capitol.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

People listen as the Legislature debates LB89 on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at the Capitol.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

OutNebraska executive director Abbi Swatsworth speaks in the Rotunda of the Capitol to opponents of LB89 after it passed on Wednesday.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

People watch from the balcony as the Legislature debates LB89 on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at the Capitol.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha speaks on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at the Capitol.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha listens as senators on Wednesday debate her bill (LB89), which bars transgender athletes from playing school sports on teams that do not align with the gender assigned to them at birth. The bill passed, 33-16.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Sen. John Fredrickson of Omaha speaks on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at the Capitol.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Sen. Bob Andersen of Omaha speaks on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at the Capitol.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Sen. Bob Andersen of Omaha (from left), Sen. Eliot Bostar of Lincoln, and Sen. Rita Sanders of Bellevue talk on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at the Capitol.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Sen. Victor Rountree of Bellevue speaks on the floor on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at the Capitol.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln speaks on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at the Capitol.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Sen. Rob Clements of Elmwood (left) talks with Speaker John Arch on Wednesday at the Capitol.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Sen. Stanley Clouse of Kearney speaks on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at the Capitol.

Journal Star file photo

Sen. Jane Raybould of Lincoln speaks on May 28 at the Capitol.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star file photo

Speaker John Arch speaks on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at the Capitol.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Speaker John Arch (from left) talks with Sen. Terrell McKinney of Omaha and Sen. Rob Clements of Elmwood on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at the Capitol.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Sen. Paul Strommen of Sidney, who introduced the legislation to narrow Nebraska's paid sick leave law, called it "an effort to shield Nebraska's smallest businesses and their employees from the detrimental effect of its act," during floor debate in March.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star file photo

Sen. Ashlei Spivey of Omaha speaks on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at the Capitol.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Sen. Jana Hughes of Seward speaks on the floor on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at the Capitol.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

+6 

Kauth

Reach the writer at 402-473-7120 or cdunker@journalstar.com.

On Bluesky @chrisdunker.bsky.social

Reporter Andrew Wegley contributed to this story.

How they voted

A bill (LB89) from Omaha Sen. Kathleen Kauth prohibiting transgender students from participating on school sports teams that do not match the gender assigned to them at birth passed on final reading Wednesday and will go to the desk of Gov. Jim Pillen for his signature.

Voting yes (33): Anderson, Arch, Armendariz, Ballard, Bosn, Brandt, Clements, Clouse, DeKay, Dorn, Dover, Hallstrom, Hansen, Hardin, Holdcroft, Hughes, Ibach, Jacobson, Kauth, Lippincott, Lonowski, McKeon, Meyer, Moser, Murman, Riepe, Sanders, Sorrentino, Storer, Storm, Strommen, von Gillern, Wordekemper.

Voting no (16): Bostar, J. Cavanaugh, M. Cavanaugh, Conrad, DeBoer, Dungan, Fredrickson, Guereca, Hunt, Juarez, McKinney, Prokop, Quick, Raybould, Rountree, Spivey.

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Legislature, 5.28

OutNebraska executive director Abbi Swatsworth speaks in the Rotunda of the Capitol to opponents of LB89 after it passed on Wednesday.

Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha smiles on Wednesday after passage of her bill (LB89), which bars transgender athletes from playing school sports on teams that do not align with the gender assigned to them at birth.

Rainbow Parents of Nebraska board member Michelle Jud speaks after LB89 is passed on Wednesday at the Capitol.

Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha speaks on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at the Capitol.

Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha listens as senators on Wednesday debate her bill (LB89), which bars transgender athletes from playing school sports on teams that do not align with the gender assigned to them at birth. The bill passed, 33-16.

A protester is escorted out before the final vote on LB89 on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at the Capitol.

Kauth

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