Remember abortion law in November 2024

Gov. Kim Reynolds is scheduled to sign a bill banning abortion after six weeks of pregnancy today at the Family Leadership Summit, hosted by the Christian conservative Family Leader organization. Several Republican presidential hopefuls will be in attendance.

So the national spotlight will once again be on Reynolds as she signs another bill into law that’s good for her political profile but bad for the people of Iowa.

Most women don’t know they’re pregnant at six weeks, or when backers claim a fetal “heartbeat” can be heard. Medical experts point out these are electrical impulses, with an actual heartbeat coming in 17 to 20 weeks. The bill would outlaw 98 percent of the abortions currently legal in Iowa.

There are exceptions to the ban for rape, incest and medical emergency. But if a victim of rape doesn’t report the crime within 45 days, or an incest victim fails to report within 145 days, that are barred from accessing a legal abortion.

Republicans turned down amendments that would have offered exceptions for children 12 and under, women suffering from mental illness, suicidality or substance abuse. They also turned down a proposal to extend the time Medicaid will pay for postpartum care.

Medical professionals will have to figure out how to navigate these exceptions. Republicans contended the Board of Medicine will write rules, although the law takes effect with the governor’s signature and without any rules to guide physicians.

Planned Parenthood, the Emma Goldman Clinic in Iowa City and the ACLU of Iowa already filed a lawsuit to stop enforcement of the law while the courts weigh its constitutionality.

All of this happened at light speed. Text of the bill debated Tuesday was released Friday. Majority Republicans held a public hearing, pushed the bill through committees and passed it in both the House and Senate in a one-day special session. Testimony from Iowans who spoke at the public hearing, including doctors, and jammed the Capitol rotunda, fell on deaf ears.

All we can do now is hope, eventually, the Iowa Supreme Court will see this bill for what it is, an undue burden on women who need access to legal abortion. We can also remember this summertime attack on Iowans’ rights in November 2024, when this Legislature will face Iowa voters.

(319) 398-8262; editorial@thegazette.com