Iowa’s House and Senate Pass Fetal Heartbeat Bill, Now It Goes to Governor

If Gov. Kim Reynolds signs the bill, it will outlaw most abortions after a heartbeat is detected.

By Nancy Flory Published on May 2, 2018

Iowa’s House and Senate passed a bill that will make most abortions illegal after a fetal heartbeat has been detected, reported WHO TV. The House passed the bill late Tuesday night with a vote of 51 to 46. The Senate passed it early Wednesday morning with a vote of 29 to 17. It now heads to Gov. Kim Reynold for her signature.

As written, the bill would not apply in cases of rape, incest or if the mother’s health is in danger. While the bill states that women will not be prosecuted for having an abortion, it does not say what will happen to doctors who perform abortions.

Unhappy Democrats

Democrats weren’t happy. “This bill takes away personal liberty that individual women should have to make their own healthcare decisions,” said Democrat Sen. Matt McCoy. He added that the decisions are private and the government and politicians should stay out of it.

“We have stomped on women’s rights to make their own healthcare decision and in my opinion, it is being used as a bargaining chip to shut the place down,” said Democrat Jo Oldson.

NARAL Pro-Choice America National Communications Director Kaylie Hanson Long issued a statement Tuesday. “At this moment, the House is debating a cruel and unconstitutional plan to ban abortion before a woman even knows she is pregnant, intentionally preventing access to abortion care completely.”

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Republicans are hopeful that the bill will provide an opportunity to overturn Roe v. Wade. According to the Des Moines Register, Republicans debating the bill said they hope the law will face a legal challenge because they want to see it go to the Supreme Court. They want a chance to overturn the 1973 case which states that women have a constitutional right to an abortion.”My Republican colleagues, this is the vote of your career,” said Republican Sen. Rick Bertrand. Republican Rep. Greg Hartsill said all life is precious. “We’re saying that all lives matter, even those in the womb.”

If the governor signs the bill, it will make abortion illegal after a heartbeat is detected, which in some cases can be heard as early as six weeks gestation. Current Iowa law states that most abortions after 20 weeks are illegal. The only exception is if doctors determine it’s necessary to protect the life or health of the mother.