LINCOLN — The same year Nebraskans voted to cement an abortion ban beyond the first trimester into the state constitution, the number of abortions performed in Nebraska rose about 7.6%. 

According to data from the state Department of Health and Human Services, at least 2,501 abortions were performed in Nebraska in 2024. That’s 176 higher than 2023’s total of 2,325 abortions in one year. 

Since 2020, Nebraska’s abortion rate has remained relatively level between about 2,300 to 2,500 procedures per year. All the while, the state’s abortion policy has fluctuated more wildly. 

In 2022, when Nebraska banned abortions past 20 weeks of pregnancy, state lawmakers were considering a full abortion ban that would be triggered when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. 

The trigger bill did not pass, and the next year lawmakers returned with a proposal to ban most abortions beyond six weeks of pregnancy. That proposal did not pass either, but in the same session lawmakers approved an amended bill to ban most abortions at 12 weeks post-gestation. 

For the 2024 election, abortion-rights advocates launched an initiative to expand abortion access within the Nebraska Constitution, which was swiftly met with an opposing initiative aimed at enshrining the current ban in the constitution. The more restrictive measure passed by roughly 55% of voters.

Breaking down the data

Nebraska’s monthly abortion rate in 2024 fluctuated between a low of 174 recorded in February, up to 250 recorded in October, just before the election. 

By far, the most popular method for undergoing an abortion was via medication, which accounted for 2,024 of the 2,501 abortions recorded in 2024 — just under 81% overall. The second most common method was curettage with suction, which made up 475 abortions that year. 

Compared to 2023, Nebraska saw fewer clients traveling from other states for abortions in 2024. In 2023, Nebraska logged clients from 19 outside states, while 2024 logged 14 other states. 

The number of clients traveling from each of those states also dropped in all but one state. For example, neighbor Kansas had 51 patients in 2023 compared to just two in 2024, and Texas had 46 patients in 2023 and 10 in 2024. 

The outlier is Iowa, which already made up the largest amount of out-of-state clients in 2023, with 222 that year. In 2024, that number rose to 358 clients. 

This comes as no surprise to Ruth Richardson, CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States (PPNCS). Iowa bans most abortions after cardiac activity is detected, which typically happens around six weeks of pregnancy. Advocates have said this essentially amounts to a total ban, as most women don’t realize they’re pregnant at that point. 

In a PPNCS press release, the organization reported that abortions performed in Iowa dropped sharply after its ban took effect in the summer of 2024. In comparison, abortions provided in Nebraska have risen about 68% since Roe was overturned in 2022, Richardson said. 

“More people must travel to get essential health care, when they deserve to be able to get it in their own communities,” Richardson said in the press release. “And yet amidst all this chaos and manufactured confusion, we have innovated and implemented solutions that have increased the number of abortion patients we have served.”    

Sandy Danek, executive director of Nebraska Right to Life, agreed that Iowa’s new abortion ban likely contributed to the rise in Iowan clients traveling to Nebraska for abortions in 2024. She said women who feel like they need an abortion often seek out states with more “liberal” abortion laws when their state is more restrictive. 

DHHS’ data reported that more than half of Nebraska’s abortions performed in 2024 happened between six to eight weeks gestation. Considering that, Danek said she feels the state’s current abortion ban past the first trimester is still too lax. She also acknowledged that further restrictions may risk encouraging Nebraskans to travel to states where abortions are more accessible. 

Danek said there are plenty of alternatives to abortions available to women who may feel they have no other option, but the challenge lies in getting the word out to those women. 

“You want to balance your dollar to both provide those services to women, but then also reach out to make the community know that they exist,” Danek said. “And that’s a juggling act.”

Implications for Nebraska’s future 

Following voters’ approval of the first-trimester abortion ban in November, abortion-rights advocates speculated that officials in the anti-abortion camp would use the victory to push for further restrictions. Officials in that camp, including Gov. Jim Pillen, told a different story, saying that it wasn’t the right time to try for more. 

While there were no bills introduced in Nebraska’s 2025 legislative session that would have directly increased the state’s abortion ban, several bills were introduced that advocates claim were intended to narrow abortion access. Those included a bill to increase requirements for medication abortions from State Sen. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue (LB 512), and a bill to require the burial or cremation of abortion remains from Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair (LB 632). 

Neither of those bills passed this session, but both will remain on the books when lawmakers reconvene in 2026. 

Though it’s too early for Nebraska Right to Life to identify priorities for the 2026 session, Danek said she supports Holdcroft’s bill. Given that the vast majority of recent Nebraska abortions are performed through medication, and she claims abortion pills are linked to a range of negative side effects, Danek said LB 512 is “a good starting place.” 

Meanwhile, Planned Parenthood officials are grappling with potential new obstacles at the federal level. Congress is considering a version of President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” that would prohibit Medicaid funds from going to Planned Parenthood for one year for any health care service provided by the organization. 

The bill passed the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, and is up for a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives as early as this week. 

Through this uncertainty, Richardson said PPNCS is looking for ways to expand their services, particularly for clients in health care deserts who have to travel longer distances for in-person care. She said they are increasing their investments in telehealth and service lines for primary care, for example.

Nebraska Examiner is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Nebraska Examiner maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Cate Folsom for questions: info@nebraskaexaminer.com. Follow Nebraska Examiner on Facebook and Twitter