LB89 - 109th Legislature: Adopt the Stand With Women Act

Sponsor	Sen. Kathleen Kauth (District 31) (Introduced 01/10/2025)
Sponsor Ranking	Nebraska's Legislature is officially nonpartisan, and no published ideology measurement of its members is in our database - so none is shown. This page shows how members voted, never where anyone places them.
Committees	Referred to Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee
Latest Action	06/06/2025 Approved by Governor on June 4, 2025
Roll Call Votes	15
Source	view on nebraskalegislature.gov →

Brief

What this bill does

If it passes, what actually changes?

This is a new state law about who can play on which school sports teams in Nebraska. It sorts teams by sex and limits who may join them.

Sections 1 to 7 create the Stand With Women Act; Section 8 adds severability.
Section 4 requires every covered team be designated male, female, or coed/mixed.
Sections 4(2) and 4(4) close female-designated teams to male students at schools and colleges.
Section 4(5) requires a doctor-signed document confirming a student's sex before participating.
Section 5 bars agencies and athletic associations from investigating schools for keeping separate female teams.
Section 6 requires each covered school to adopt an implementing policy addressing visitor conduct.

What it says it is for

Does it do what it claims?

The title is literally accurate but broader than the text. Every operative section is about sports team eligibility and nothing else.

Section 1 adopts the act under that exact name, so the title matches.
The act is styled as public health and welfare, but regulates only school athletics.
Section 4(2)(b) also limits female students, barring boys' teams when a girls' team exists.
Section 2 findings argue physical difference; Section 3 defines sex by reproductive system, not performance.
Section 7 preserves federal Americans with Disabilities Act protections for differences in sex development.

Where Scripture bears on it

What does the Bible say about this?

The bill's premise is that the difference between male and female is real, enduring, and something law may take account of, and Scripture does treat that difference as given and as legally noticeable: Leviticus 12:7 closes its instruction with "Who shall offer it before the LORD, and make an atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This is the law for her that hath born a male or a female." Against a flat reading of that, Paul writes of a single body made of unlike parts — "For the body is not one member, but many" (1 Corinthians 12:14) — which cuts both ways here, since it neither erases difference nor makes difference a warrant for exclusion. What these verses do not settle is nearly everything the bill actually decides. Neither says anything about athletics, eligibility rules, scholarships, or fairness in competition; neither tells a school who must sign a form, what a doctor should examine, or what to do when a body does not fit the categories Section 3 draws — the very case Section 7 gestures at without resolving. Scripture here supplies a premise the bill assumes, not an answer to the questions the bill leaves open.

The case each way

What is the strongest argument for, and against?

The disagreement is over whether sorting teams strictly by sex protects female athletes or unfairly excludes some students.

For: Section 2 cites male size, muscle mass, and testosterone as competitive advantages.
For: Section 2(8) argues separate teams protect scholarships and reduce injury risk to females.
For: Section 5 gives schools legal cover for maintaining female-only teams.
Against: Section 4(5) makes every athlete obtain doctor documentation, a new burden and privacy intrusion.
Against: Section 3 definitions exclude transgender girls from female teams with no stated exception.
Against: Section 5 removes the complaint route for a student who believes exclusion was wrong.

What is unsettled

What should I be careful about?

This reading covers only what the printed text says; several practical questions the text leaves open.

The text names no penalty, fine, lawsuit, or enforcement agency for violations.
No dollar figure or cost estimate appears anywhere in the bill text.
Section 4(5) does not say what the doctor-signed confirmation document must contain.
Section 6 leaves 'conduct of visitors and the public' entirely to each school's policy.
Section 3 phrases like 'unintentional disruption' of the reproductive system are not further defined.
The text states no operative date and does not address federal Title IX interaction.

Text (3)

Final Reading (application/pdf)
Introduced (application/pdf)
Slip Law (application/pdf)

Each link opens the Legislature's own document. The text itself is not in our database yet (fetched lazily); when it lands these pages will carry it verbatim.

All Actions (71)

Date	Actor	All Actions
06/06/2025	executive	Approved by Governor on June 4, 2025
05/29/2025	executive	Presented to Governor on May 29, 2025
05/28/2025	legislature	Kauth MO328 prevailed
05/28/2025	legislature	Kauth FA221 not considered
05/28/2025	legislature	Kauth AM1454 not considered
05/28/2025	legislature	Hunt MO6 not considered
05/28/2025	legislature	Hunt MO192 pending
05/28/2025	legislature	Hunt MO192 pending
05/28/2025	legislature	Hunt MO192 failed
05/28/2025	legislature	Hunt MO191 not considered
05/28/2025	legislature	Hunt MO190 not considered
05/28/2025	legislature	Hunt MO189 not considered
05/28/2025	legislature	Hunt FA123 not considered
05/28/2025	legislature	Cavanaugh, J. FA241 not considered
05/28/2025	legislature	President/Speaker signed
05/28/2025	legislature	Passed on Final Reading 33-16-0
05/28/2025	legislature	Kauth MO328 Invoke cloture pursuant to Rule 7, Sec. 10 filed
05/19/2025	legislature	Enrollment and Review ST41 recorded
05/19/2025	legislature	Placed on Final Reading with ST41
05/19/2025	legislature	Enrollment and Review ST41 filed
05/14/2025	legislature	Riepe AM1138 adopted
05/14/2025	legislature	No objections to unanimous consent to withdraw and substitute amendment
05/14/2025	legislature	Kauth MO258 prevailed
05/14/2025	legislature	Kauth AM1024 withdrawn
05/14/2025	legislature	Dungan FA239 lost
05/14/2025	legislature	Dungan FA119 withdrawn
05/14/2025	legislature	Dungan FA118 withdrawn
05/14/2025	legislature	Conrad FA122 withdrawn
05/14/2025	legislature	Conrad FA121 withdrawn
05/14/2025	legislature	Conrad FA120 withdrawn
05/14/2025	legislature	Cavanaugh, M. FA240 lost
05/14/2025	legislature	Cavanaugh, J. MO257 failed
05/14/2025	legislature	Advanced to Enrollment and Review for Engrossment
05/14/2025	legislature	Kauth MO258 Invoke cloture pursuant to Rule 7, Sec. 10 filed
05/14/2025	legislature	Dungan FA239 filed
05/14/2025	legislature	Cavanaugh, M. FA240 filed
05/14/2025	legislature	Cavanaugh, J. MO257 Bracket until June 9, 2025 filed
05/14/2025	legislature	Cavanaugh, J. FA241 filed
05/13/2025	legislature	Kauth AM1454 filed
05/12/2025	legislature	Kauth FA221 filed
04/29/2025	legislature	Placed on Select File
04/22/2025	legislature	Kauth MO193 prevailed
04/22/2025	legislature	Hunt MO5 failed
04/22/2025	legislature	Hunt MO4 failed
04/22/2025	legislature	Hunt MO185 failed
04/22/2025	legislature	Government, Military and Veterans Affairs AM701 adopted
04/22/2025	legislature	Advanced to Enrollment and Review Initial
04/22/2025	legislature	Riepe AM1138 to AM701 filed
04/22/2025	legislature	Kauth MO193 Invoke cloture pursuant to Rule 7, Sec. 10 filed
04/22/2025	legislature	Hunt MO192 Recommit to the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee filed
04/22/2025	legislature	Hunt MO191 Indefinitely postpone filed
04/22/2025	legislature	Hunt MO190 Recommit to the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee filed
04/22/2025	legislature	Hunt MO189 Bracket until June 9, 2025 filed
04/22/2025	legislature	Hunt MO185 Reconsider the vote taken on MO4 filed
04/22/2025	legislature	Hunt FA123 filed
04/22/2025	legislature	Dungan FA119 filed
04/22/2025	legislature	Dungan FA118 filed
04/22/2025	legislature	Conrad FA122 filed
04/22/2025	legislature	Conrad FA121 filed
04/22/2025	legislature	Conrad FA120 filed
04/11/2025	legislature	Kauth AM1024 filed
03/25/2025	legislature	Government, Military and Veterans Affairs AM701 filed
03/25/2025	legislature	Placed on General File with AM701
03/04/2025	legislature	Kauth priority bill
01/29/2025	legislature	Notice of hearing for February 07, 2025
01/14/2025	legislature	Referred to Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee
01/14/2025	legislature	Hunt MO6 Recommit to the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee filed
01/14/2025	legislature	Hunt MO5 Bracket until June 9, 2025 filed
01/14/2025	legislature	Hunt MO4 Indefinitely postpone pursuant to Rule 6, Sec. 3(f) filed
01/13/2025	legislature	Meyer name added
01/10/2025	legislature	Date of introduction

Votes (15)

05/28/2025 · Passed on Final Reading 33-16-0 · 33-16-0 · Passed

Yea (33): Andersen, 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

Nay (16): Bostar, Cavanaugh, J., Cavanaugh, M., Conrad, DeBoer, Dungan, Fredrickson, Guereca, Hunt, Juarez, McKinney, Prokop, Quick, Raybould, Rountree, Spivey

05/28/2025 · Kauth MO328 prevailed · 33-16-0 · Failed

Yea (33): Andersen, 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

Nay (16): Bostar, Cavanaugh, J., Cavanaugh, M., Conrad, DeBoer, Dungan, Fredrickson, Guereca, Hunt, Juarez, McKinney, Prokop, Quick, Raybould, Rountree, Spivey

05/28/2025 · Hunt MO192 failed · 16-33-0 · Failed

Yea (16): Bostar, Cavanaugh, J., Cavanaugh, M., Conrad, DeBoer, Dungan, Fredrickson, Guereca, Hunt, Juarez, McKinney, Prokop, Quick, Raybould, Rountree, Spivey

Nay (33): Andersen, 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

05/14/2025 · Riepe AM1138 adopted · 34-8-7 · Failed

Yea (34): Andersen, Arch, Armendariz, Ballard, Bosn, Brandt, Clements, Clouse, DeKay, Dorn, Dover, Hallstrom, Hansen, Hardin, Holdcroft, Hughes, Ibach, Jacobson, Kauth, Lippincott, Lonowski, McKeon, Meyer, Moser, Murman, Quick, Raybould, Riepe, Sanders, Sorrentino, Storer, Storm, von Gillern, Wordekemper

Nay (8): Cavanaugh, J., Cavanaugh, M., Conrad, Dungan, Hunt, Juarez, McKinney, Spivey

Not voting (7): Bostar, DeBoer, Fredrickson, Guereca, Prokop, Rountree, Strommen

05/14/2025 · Kauth MO258 prevailed · 33-14-2 · Failed

Yea (33): Andersen, 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

Nay (14): Bostar, Cavanaugh, J., Cavanaugh, M., Conrad, DeBoer, Dungan, Fredrickson, Guereca, Hunt, Juarez, McKinney, Raybould, Rountree, Spivey

Not voting (2): Prokop, Quick

05/14/2025 · Dungan FA239 lost · 15-33-1 · Failed

Yea (15): Bostar, Cavanaugh, J., Cavanaugh, M., Conrad, DeBoer, Dungan, Fredrickson, Guereca, Hunt, Juarez, McKinney, Prokop, Raybould, Rountree, Spivey

Nay (33): Andersen, 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

Not voting (1): Quick

05/14/2025 · Cavanaugh, M. FA240 lost · 15-33-1 · Failed

Yea (15): Bostar, Cavanaugh, J., Cavanaugh, M., Conrad, DeBoer, Dungan, Fredrickson, Guereca, Hunt, Juarez, McKinney, Prokop, Raybould, Rountree, Spivey

Nay (33): Andersen, 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

Not voting (1): Quick

05/14/2025 · Cavanaugh, J. MO257 failed · 13-33-3 · Failed

Yea (13): Cavanaugh, J., Cavanaugh, M., Conrad, DeBoer, Dungan, Fredrickson, Guereca, Hunt, Juarez, McKinney, Raybould, Rountree, Spivey

Nay (33): Andersen, 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

Not voting (3): Bostar, Prokop, Quick

05/14/2025 · Advanced to Enrollment and Review for Engrossment · 33-15-1 · Passed

Yea (33): Andersen, 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

Nay (15): Bostar, Cavanaugh, J., Cavanaugh, M., Conrad, DeBoer, Dungan, Fredrickson, Guereca, Hunt, Juarez, McKinney, Prokop, Raybould, Rountree, Spivey

Not voting (1): Quick

04/22/2025 · Kauth MO193 prevailed · 33-16-0 · Failed

Yea (33): Andersen, 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

Nay (16): Bostar, Cavanaugh, J., Cavanaugh, M., Conrad, DeBoer, Dungan, Fredrickson, Guereca, Hunt, Juarez, McKinney, Prokop, Quick, Raybould, Rountree, Spivey

04/22/2025 · Hunt MO5 failed · 16-33-0 · Failed

Yea (16): Bostar, Cavanaugh, J., Cavanaugh, M., Conrad, DeBoer, Dungan, Fredrickson, Guereca, Hunt, Juarez, McKinney, Prokop, Quick, Raybould, Rountree, Spivey

Nay (33): Andersen, 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

04/22/2025 · Hunt MO4 failed · 15-33-1 · Failed

Yea (15): Bostar, Cavanaugh, J., Cavanaugh, M., Conrad, DeBoer, Dungan, Fredrickson, Guereca, Juarez, McKinney, Prokop, Quick, Raybould, Rountree, Spivey

Nay (33): Andersen, 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

Not voting (1): Hunt

04/22/2025 · Hunt MO185 failed · 15-32-2 · Failed

Yea (15): Bostar, Cavanaugh, J., Cavanaugh, M., Conrad, DeBoer, Dungan, Fredrickson, Guereca, Juarez, McKinney, Prokop, Quick, Raybould, Rountree, Spivey

Nay (32): Andersen, Arch, Armendariz, Ballard, Bosn, Brandt, Clements, Clouse, DeKay, Dorn, Dover, Hallstrom, Hansen, Hardin, Holdcroft, Hughes, Ibach, Jacobson, Kauth, Lippincott, Lonowski, McKeon, Meyer, Moser, Murman, Sanders, Sorrentino, Storer, Storm, Strommen, von Gillern, Wordekemper

Not voting (2): Hunt, Riepe

04/22/2025 · Government, Military and Veterans Affairs AM701 adopted · 33-11-5 · Failed

Yea (33): Andersen, 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

Nay (11): Bostar, Cavanaugh, J., Conrad, Dungan, Hunt, Juarez, McKinney, Prokop, Raybould, Rountree, Spivey

Not voting (5): Cavanaugh, M., DeBoer, Fredrickson, Guereca, Quick

04/22/2025 · Advanced to Enrollment and Review Initial · 33-16-0 · Passed

Yea (33): Andersen, 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

Nay (16): Bostar, Cavanaugh, J., Cavanaugh, M., Conrad, DeBoer, Dungan, Fredrickson, Guereca, Hunt, Juarez, McKinney, Prokop, Quick, Raybould, Rountree, Spivey

Every roll call as the Legislature recorded it, with each member's vote by name.

Sponsors (2)

Sen. Kathleen Kauth [District 31] — primary sponsor
Meyer

Amendments (14)

Amendment	Outcome	Description
AM1024	not adopted	Kauth AM1024
AM1454	not adopted	Kauth AM1454
FA118	not adopted	Dungan FA118
FA119	not adopted	Dungan FA119
FA120	not adopted	Conrad FA120
FA121	not adopted	Conrad FA121
FA122	not adopted	Conrad FA122
FA123	not adopted	Hunt FA123
FA221	not adopted	Kauth FA221
FA239	not adopted	Dungan FA239
FA240	not adopted	Cavanaugh, M. FA240
FA241	not adopted	Cavanaugh, J. FA241
AM1138	adopted	Riepe AM1138
AM701	adopted	Government, Military and Veterans Affairs AM701

Fiscal Notes & Statements (16)

Document — Cavanaugh, J. MO257 (failed)
Committee Statement — Committee Statement
Document — Enrollment and Review ST41 (recorded)
Fiscal Note — Fiscal Note
Document — Hunt MO185 (failed)
Document — Hunt MO189 (not considered)
Document — Hunt MO190 (not considered)
Document — Hunt MO191 (not considered)
Document — Hunt MO192 (failed)
Document — Hunt MO4 (failed)
Document — Hunt MO5 (failed)
Document — Hunt MO6 (not considered)
Document — Kauth MO193 (prevailed)
Document — Kauth MO258 (prevailed)
Document — Kauth MO328 (prevailed)
Statement of Intent — Statement of Intent

The Legislature's own companion documents; each link opens the official copy.

Committees (1)

Committee	Referred
Referred to Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee	01/14/2025

Related Bills (0)

No related bill information was received for LB89.