Nebraska pro-life measure passes

The Cornhusker State now protects unborn babies from dismemberment abortions. The procedure, called “dilation and evacuation,” involves pulling them from the womb in pieces. The unicameral legislature in Lincoln, Neb., finished its session on Thursday by passing a bill prohibiting the procedure. Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts signed it into law at a ceremony outside the state Capitol in Lincoln on Saturday.

Will the law stand? Federal courts have struck down similar laws in other states as unconstitutional. But Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson said the bill does not place an “undue burden” on abortion access in the state and could stand up in court. He said abortionists used the dismemberment procedure just 0.3 percent of the time last year.

Dig deeper: Read Seth Johnson’s report in The Sift on similar laws winning legal decisions.

Editor’s note: WORLD has updated this report from its initial posting.