Key takeaways:
- The Iowa Legislature passed a bill banning most abortions after roughly six weeks of pregnancy.
- The bill includes a few very narrow exceptions, such as if the pregnancy is a result of a rape or incest.
- The bill was passed despite vocal objections from Democratic lawmakers and abortion advocates, and was met with booing and yelling from protesters in the gallery.
The Iowa Legislature passed a bill late Tuesday night banning most abortions after roughly six weeks of pregnancy. The bill was passed with exclusively Republican support in a marathon special session that lasted over 14 hours.
The bill includes a few very narrow exceptions, such as if the pregnancy is a result of a rape that has been reported to law enforcement or a health official within 45 days, or if it is a result of incest that has been reported to the same authorities.
The bill was passed despite vocal objections from Democratic lawmakers and abortion advocates who had gathered at the Capitol to protest. Clashes between anti-abortion and abortion-rights protesters in the state capitol complex became so heated at times that state troopers had to intervene.
The bill was passed after Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds ordered the rare session following the state Supreme Court’s decision to decline to reinstate a practically identical law that she had signed in 2018. After the bill was approved, lingering protesters in the gallery booed and yelled “shame” to state senators.
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