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LB530 - Change provisions relating to the Nebraska Rules of the Road, motor vehicle homicide, and motor vehicle homicide of an unborn child

The Stated Intent: LB530 changes provisions relating to motor vehicle homicide, motor vehicle homicide of an unborn child, speed limit violations, and passing a stopped vehicle. It redefines the term reckless driving under the Nebraska Rules of the Road, provides a requirement for motor vehicle operators who are approaching or passing vulnerable road users and provides and changes fines and penalties.

So what is LB530 all about?

LB530 would make several changes to various Nebraska statutes as it relates to the safe operation of a motor vehicle. Those changes include, in part, the areas of:

• the unintentionally death of another, born and unborn, while operating a vehicle
• penalties (fines) for violations of maximum speed limit infractions
• the definition of reckless driving
• vehicle handling instructions regarding approaching or passing a vulnerable road user or a parked vehicle.

For the purpose of this Minuteman Alert, NFFV's focus and support is for changes made to statute 28-394 - "Motor vehicle homicide of an unborn child; penalty". LB530 would add statutes 60-6,179.01 and 60-6,179.02 (which relate to driving under the influence without a license or with a prior conviction) to a Class IIIA felony for the motor vehicle homicide of an unborn child. The bill would also increase the period for which the violator would have their license suspended for said violations.

Is this the only one?

Have you noticed the lack of bills aimed toward providing further protections for the unborn? LB530 might be the only one. The reality is LB530 probably won't save an unborn child from an untimely death. It will, however, continue the slow work of recognizing an unborn child as a person and thus grants some legal rights. Nebraska statute 28-389 defines an unborn child as

"an individual member of the species Homo sapiens, at any stage of development in utero, who was alive at the time of the homicidal act and died as a result thereof whether before, during, or after birth."

This is an important definition; however, it is nullified against the child's greatest adversary, "abortion", by statute 28-390.

National Right to Life lists states that recognize unborn victims in state statutes and laws in their 2018 article "State Homicide Laws That Recognize Unborn Victims". The left leaning Pregnancy Justice has more recent maps showing where states are in terms of recognizing an unborn child's legal rights. Their map, last updated Sept 2024, shows states that have laws on fetal homicide. They define fetal homicide as "Criminal feticide, or fetal homicide, refers to a type of law that authorizes homicide (murder) charges for “causing” a pregnancy loss such as miscarriage or stillbirth".

The truth of it

NFFV believe life starts at conception and ends with natural death.

Psalms 139:14-18

¹⁴I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

¹⁵My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

¹⁶Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

¹⁷How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!

¹⁸If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.

This is the reason NFFV supported the Choose Life Now ballot petition last year and why we took the stance we did on ballot initiatives 439 and 434.

Chose Life Now

Nebraskans Embracing Life has started round two of their Chose Life Now ballet initiative. Their goal is to give Nebraska's the opportunity to chose life in November of 2026.

Deuteronomy 30:19

"This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live"

The ballot language is clearly stated:

"A preborn child is a person at every state of development, beginning at fertilization. Whenever under Nebraska law the term "person" is used or implied, it shall include such a child."

If you would like to help, visit Nebraskans Embracing Life's website or go to ChooseLifeNow.net to get more information.

Let YOUR senator(s) know:

• If more penalties are going to be applied to the unintentional death of a "born" person, then those same penalties need to be applied to the "unborn" person.

• Life begins at conception and Nebraska statutes should align with that fact.

• The lack of bills supporting life is disappointing, LB530 would be a small step toward recognizing our most vulnerable.

Your voice is powerful, make it heard on LB530. The committee hearing is scheduled for Friday, February 28, 2025. NFFV recommends you "Support" this bill.

How to be heard? Here are three ways:

• Most Effective: Testify in person. Going to the Committee hearing and sharing YOUR story with committee member Senators is very impactful. For first time in person testifier here are some helpful hints. 
• Effective: Submit written testimony. If you can't be there in person then submit written testimony. Not sure how to do that, click here. Note: The deadline to submit and verify a comment for the hearing record for LB530 is Friday, February 28, 2025 at 8:00 AM Central Time.
• Least Effective: Email your position letter to the Committee Senators and CC your own Senator. For a listing of the Judiciary Committee Senators click here. Note: emails should be sent by noon, the business day before the committee hearing. It's not likely these emails will be included in official hearing minutes, however, there is a better chance Committee Senators will see your comments. You can request they be added to meeting minutes in your email to Committee Senators.

If you liked the content provided in this Minuteman, consider donating to NFFV. You can donate by clicking the button below or by mailing a check made to Nebraska for Founders' Values.

Nebraskans for Founders' Values

PO Box 255

Walton, NE 68461

NEBRASKANS FOR FOUNDERS' VALUES

Board of Directors Team

www.nffv.org