'The voices of Iowans and their democratically elected representatives cannot be ignored any longer, and justice for the unborn should not be delayed.”Īttorney General Brenna Bird, a Republican, pledged to defend the law in court. 'The Iowa Supreme Court questioned whether this Legislature would pass the same law they did in 2018, and today they have a clear answer,' she said in a Tuesday statement. Reynolds said she intends to sign the new bill into law on Friday at the Family Leadership Summit, an annual gathering of conservative evangelicals. But the Iowa Supreme Court deadlocked 3-3 last month, leaving the law blocked and returning the question to the Iowa Legislature. Reynolds sought to revive that law in 2022, after federal and state court decisions rolled back some protections for abortion. What happened with Iowa's previous 'fetal heartbeat' lawĪ nearly identical Iowa law in 2018 was blocked by the courts from taking effect. … But we certainly hope that the courts, in this case, understand the urgency of the relief,' said Peter Im, staff attorney at Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

'Any time that you make a request to a court, the court doesn't have to act immediately. It's unclear how quickly Seidlin will decide whether to block the law. The hearing is scheduled to begin 45 minutes before Reynolds signs the bill. Polk County District Judge Joseph Seidlin will hear arguments Friday about whether to issue a temporary injunction to block the law from taking effect. We refuse to stand idly by and will fight every step of the way to block this abortion ban and restore Iowans’ rights.” 'Hundreds of Iowans will be impacted in mere weeks. 'If this abortion ban goes into effect, it will place an unacceptable burden on patients’ ability to access essential abortion care, especially those who already face systemic inequities,' Planned Parenthood North Central States President Ruth Richardson said in a statement. They're asking a Polk County District judge to temporarily block it from taking effect and then hear arguments to determine whether the law is constitutional. Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, the Emma Goldman Clinic and the ACLU of Iowa challenged the law on Wednesday. Medical providers say the law will prohibit most abortions after about six weeks of gestation - measured as six weeks from the first day of the pregnant person's last menstrual period. The ban includes limited exceptions to preserve the life of the mother and for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest. Kim Reynolds signs it into law on Friday, Iowa doctors will be forbidden from providing abortions after cardiac activity is detected during an abdominal ultrasound.

The Iowa Legislature approved the 'fetal heartbeat' bill Tuesday in an all-day special session. View Gallery: Lawmakers and protesters gather for 'fetal heartbeat' abortion banĪbortion providers and the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa have filed a lawsuit to halt Iowa legislation that would ban most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy, when cardiac activity is detected in an embryo.

No heartbeat at 6 weeks pregnant