Nebraska's Attorney General's opinion was released Friday.
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The state attorney general says Nebraska cities cannot enact ordinances that protect gay and transgender people from discrimination.
Jon Bruning says cities have no authority to extend protection to groups that aren't protected under state statute.
The opinion was issued Friday in response to a request from Omaha Sen. Beau McCoy, who introduced a bill this past legislative session that would have prohibited counties and cities from enforcing their own anti-discrimination laws that go beyond statewide rules. The bill didn't advance out of committee.
Omaha passed an ordinance in March that extends protections to gay and transgender people. A similar ordinance is under consideration in Lincoln.
Aida Amoura with Mayor Jim Suttle's office issued this response to the opinion. “This is a non-binding opinion from the Attorney General that shouldn’t change Omaha’s ordinance preventing discrimination and allowing all citizens equal employment opportunities.”
