Live Coverage: Special session of the Iowa Legislature

Iowa lawmakers meet in Des Moines to consider passage of a bill that would restrict abortion

Erin Murphy Tom Barton

Tom BartonCaleb McCullough, Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau

Jul. 11, 2023 8:00 am, Updated: Jul. 11, 2023 11:50 pm

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Pastor Michael Shover of Christ the Redeemer Church in Pella, left, argues with Ryan Maher, of Des Moines, as protestors clashed in the Iowa State Capitol rotunda, while the Iowa Legislature convenes for special session to pass 6-week 'fetal heartbeat' abortion ban, Tuesday, July 11, 2023. (Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Des Moines Register via AP) — Pastor Michael Shover of Christ the Redeemer Church in Pella, left, argues with Ryan Maher, of Des Moines, as protestors clashed in the Iowa State Capitol rotunda, while the Iowa Legislature convenes for special session to pass 6-week “fetal heartbeat” abortion ban, Tuesday. (Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Des Moines Register via AP)

DES MOINES -- Iowa lawmakers meet today in a special session to consider a bill to severely restrict abortion in the state.

The bill, which was introduced on Friday, would ban abortions once a fetal heartbeat — defined as “cardiac activity, the steady and repetitive rhythmic contraction of the fetal heart within the gestational sac” — is detected. It includes exceptions for pregnancies that are the result of rape and incest.

It also includes exceptions for miscarriages, a fetal abnormality that would result in the infant’s death, and for when the mother’s life is threatened.

Abortion is currently legal in Iowa up to 20 weeks.

Follow live updates from the Iowa Capitol on The Gazette’s live blog below.