LINCOLN, Neb. — The Nebraska Legislature session that opens next Wednesday will address the long-simmering, religiously freighted issues of cloning and stem-cell research.

One proposal would ban both reproductive cloning and so-called therapeutic cloning.

Another bill would ban reproductive cloning but permit embryo research for therapeutic cloning.

A pre-session survey of members of Nebraska's unicameral legislature showed 20 supported the broader ban, 11 backed the second bill, 12 favored neither and 6 did not answer. On a different point, 23 said the state should encourage stem-cell research, though many opposed embryonic research and four wanted to ban all stem-cell research.

Yet another pending bill would ban use of state money or state facilities for any research that destroys human embryos.

Connecticut recently approved $100 million to promote embryonic research, following similar action in Massachusetts, California and New Jersey.