Late Tuesday night, Iowa Republicans successfully passed a bill that would ban most abortions after six weeks, significantly reshaping the reproductive rights legal landscape in the state. During a one-day special legislative session that Republican Governor Kim Reynolds called in order to pass "pro-life" legislation, the bill received largely bipartisan support.
Governor Reynolds wasted no time in expressing her intention to sign the bill into law on Friday. If the legislation is not blocked by the courts, it will go into effect immediately after her signature. This could leave abortion clinics in Iowa and women with scheduled appointments in a state of uncertainty, as the current law allows abortions in the state until the 20th week of pregnancy.
Abortion Clinics, Women Left in Limbo as Iowa's 6-Week Ban Could Take Immediate Effect
Under the newly passed bill, abortions would be banned at six weeks of pregnancy, which is around the time a fetal pulse can be detected via ultrasound.
According to NBC News, the legislation does include exceptions for cases where the life of the woman is at risk, as well as for miscarriages and fetal abnormalities deemed incompatible with life by a physician.
Furthermore, the bill contains exceptions for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest. However, for these exceptions to apply, the rape must have been reported to law enforcement or a health agency within 45 days, and the incest must have been reported within 140 days.
The passage of the bill followed a 15-hour special legislative session, during which passionate arguments were presented both in favor of and against the measure. Protesters, including Democratic legislators and reproductive rights groups, held large demonstrations throughout the day at the state Capitol.
Opponents of the bill emphasized that abortion is normal, safe, and essential healthcare. They argued against turning Iowa into a theocracy and raised concerns about doctors leaving the state due to the potential loss of their ability to provide reproductive health care.
Supporters of the ban voiced their belief in the sanctity of life and the importance of protecting the unborn. They argued that life begins at conception and that the Bible supports their position.
Legal Challenges Loom as Reproductive Rights Groups Vow to Fight Iowa's Abortion Ban
The passage of this restrictive legislation is expected to have significant implications for the 2024 presidential race. As Iowa hosts the first Republican caucuses, candidates will face questions about their stance on the ban. While conservative evangelical Christians, a crucial voting bloc in Iowa, tend to support stronger abortion restrictions, polling indicates that a majority of voters nationally and in Iowa believe in the right to abortion.
Reproductive rights groups, including Planned Parenthood, have expressed their intention to challenge the law in court. They assert that the fight for safe and legal abortion and reproductive healthcare is far from over and that they will explore all available options to protect bodily autonomy in Iowa.
The new bill closely resembles a six-week ban that the Iowa Supreme Court permanently overturned last month. However, if the new law goes into effect, it could face legal challenges that could lead to a different outcome, particularly if a full state Supreme Court weighs in on the matter.
Related Article: Nebraska Governor to Sign Contentious Bill: 12-Week Abortion Ban, Curbs on Gender-Affirming Care
