Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds approves six-week abortion ban.

Gov. Kim Reynolds Signs Historic Bill Banning Most Abortions in Iowa

Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA) made a bold move on Friday by signing a bill that effectively bans most abortions in Iowa at six weeks late into pregnancy. This significant development comes just days after the state’s Republican-controlled legislature passed the bill, marking a major victory for the pro-life movement.

The six-week abortion ban wasted no time in taking effect, as Reynolds signed the legislation at the Family Leadership Summit. According to CNN, the bill was passed during an all-day special legislative session earlier in the week.

A Historic Stand Against Inhumanity

Addressing the crowd before signing the bill, Reynolds expressed her support, saying, “This week, in a rare and historic special session, the Iowa legislature voted for a second time to reject the inhumanity of abortion and pass the fetal heartbeat law.” Her words resonated with those who believe in protecting the sanctity of life.

However, despite the bill’s success in Iowa, it is already facing legal challenges. Planned Parenthood, the Emma Goldman Clinic, and Iowa’s ACLU wasted no time in filing a joint lawsuit against the state and its governor, less than 12 hours after the bill’s passage.

Strict Guidelines and Limited Exceptions

The newly signed bill prohibits abortion services once cardiac activity can be detected in the fetus, which typically occurs around the six-week mark. Physicians who violate this law may face disciplinary action determined by the Iowa Board of Medicine, although the specifics of punishment enforcement remain somewhat unclear.

While the law is stringent, it does include limited exceptions. Abortions are allowed in cases where the life of the mother is at risk, for miscarriages, and for fetal abnormalities deemed “incompatible with life” by a physician. However, pregnancies resulting from rape must be reported within 45 days, and those resulting from incest must be reported within 140 days to be exempt from the law.

Click here to read more from The Washington Examiner.

Previously, abortion was legal in Iowa up to 20 weeks of pregnancy. However, with this new legislation, Iowa joins a growing list of states that have rolled back abortion protections since the landmark Roe v. Wade decision was overturned in June 2022.

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