A Democratic Nebraska lawmaker vowed to filibuster every bill so the GOP-led legislature couldn't ban abortion and limit transgender health care: 'I want to annoy you'

• A Nebraska lawmaker promised to filibuster every bill introduced this session in order to block an abortion ban.
• Dem. Senator Machaela Cavanaugh is also trying to stop a bill that would ban gender-affirming care for minors.

A Democratic lawmaker in Nebraska on Thursday vowed to filibuster every bill the GOP-led legislature tried to pass to stop the state from passing bans on abortion and transgender health care.

"I want to annoy you. I want you to genuinely be frustrated to all get out with me," Senator Machaela Cavanaugh told the Nebraska legislature at a meeting Thursday night, local CBS News outlet KMTV reported.

At Thursday night's session, Cavanaugh was heard filibustering through Legislative Bill 147, KMTV reported, but she isn't stopping there.

She also has plans to delay two more controversial bills — LB 626, or a "heartbeat bill" which bans abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, and LB 574, which would ban gender-affirming health care for transgender teens and children, according to KMTV.

Cavanaugh told KMTV "her fellow senators forced her hand with their lack of collegiality."

She also promised "they would be hearing from her" on every bill being presented during this term.

"This body decided they wanted me to go on. I don't know what we want to call this. My vendetta? On behalf of trans kids? Because this is how the session is gonna be — for every bill," Cavanaugh said, KMTV reported.

Cavanaugh did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

In Nebraska, abortions are currently banned after 20 weeks of pregnancy. The new bill would require physicians to test for "steady and repetitive contractions" in order to figure out the gestational age.

If the activity is detected, abortion would be banned, except in cases of sexual assault, incest, or medical emergency, according to a release about the proposed bill.

LB 574, or the "Let Them Grow" act would ban doctors in the state from performing or referring anyone under the age of 19 for gender-affirming care, including surgical procedures, hormone treatment, and puberty blockers, according to a release about the proposed bill.

Any doctor who refers or performs these kinds of care would have their medical license reviewed and would let children — or their parents — sue the doctors within two years of the treatment.