LB 89 Legislature · 109th Legislature (2025-2026)

Adopt the Stand With Women Act

Nebraska's LB 89, the "Stand With Women Act," requires public and private schools, as well as colleges, to designate interscholastic sports teams as "male," "female," or "coed" based solely on biological sex at birth. It prohibits biologically male students from participating on teams designated for females (girls/women), with a limited exception only if no girls' team exists for a specific sport. The bill cites physical differences between sexes as justification, stating that separate teams reduce injury risk for female athletes and ensure fair competition. This law directly affects student-athletes, schools, and athletic associations in Nebraska by mandating sex-based team eligibility.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Legislature Passage

May 2025

Legislature Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

Jun 2025

Introduced Jan 10, 2025 Signed Jun 6, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Final Reading · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill was amended to strengthen protections for single-sex spaces by clarifying definitions of biological sex and explicitly prohibiting males from accessing female-only restrooms and locker rooms. The changes also reorganized the bill's structure, added new findings about biological differences between sexes, and expanded the list of sponsors.

Scope change

The bill now explicitly includes private schools whose teams compete against public schools in interscholastic sports under its requirements, and clarifies that separate athletic teams must be designated by sex rather than coed.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'female' and 'male' that specify biological reproductive systems (eggs/sperm production) to clarify biological sex distinctions.

REQUIREMENT

Added explicit prohibition preventing male students from accessing female-only restrooms and locker rooms, with exceptions only for custodial/maintenance entry.

Modified athletic team designations to require explicit sex-based categories (males, females, or coed) rather than allowing mixed designations.

Added new findings section detailing biological differences between sexes and the importance of separate sports teams for safety and fairness.

SCOPE

Expanded applicability to include private schools whose teams compete against public schools in interscholastic sports.

TECHNICAL

Added a new sponsor (Meyer, 17) to the bill's sponsor list.

Floor votes · Legislature Apr 22, 2025

How they voted

33–16

Passed

Total votes 49

Apr 22, 2025

N Nonpartisan49

33 Yea 16 Nay

67% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jun 6, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by Governor on June 4, 2025

executive

May 28, 2025

Legislature · Passed

President/Speaker signed

legislature

May 28, 2025

Legislature · Passed

Passed on Final Reading 33-16-0

legislature

May 14, 2025

Legislature · Passed

Riepe AM1138 adopted

legislature

Apr 22, 2025

Legislature · Passed

Government, Military and Veterans Affairs AM701 adopted

legislature

Mar 25, 2025

Legislature · Passed

Placed on General File with AM701

legislature

Jan 14, 2025

Committee

Referred to Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee

legislature

Jan 10, 2025

Introduced

Date of introduction

legislature

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors