Abortion soon will be mostly illegal in Iowa; what are the abortion laws in Iowa’s neighboring states?

DES MOINES — Abortion in Iowa will be illegal after roughly six weeks of pregnancy — which is often before the parent is aware of the pregnancy — after a ruling Friday from the Iowa Supreme Court.

That ruling was set in motion in part by a 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision that gave states the authority to enact their own abortion laws, creating a patchwork of abortion policies across the country.

The 2022 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturned the court’s landmark 1973 Roe v Wade decision, which had provided a federal right to an abortion. The Dobbs decision cleared the legal landscape for state-level abortion policies.

The six states that share a border with Iowa have enacted various abortion policies. The following information was collected from state laws, media reports, and health care advocacy websites that track health care and abortion policy, including the Guttmacher Institute, the Center for Reproductive Rights, and KFF.

Minnesota

There are no restrictions on abortion in Minnesota state law after statehouse Democrats passed new legislation in 2023. The measure enshrined the right to an abortion and other reproductive health care services into state law.

Also under state law: state Medicaid funds cover abortions, qualified health care professionals as well as physicians can provide abortions, the state provides protections from harassment and physical harm for anyone entering an abortion clinic, and a state shield law protects abortion providers from investigations by other states.

Wisconsin

Abortion is legal in Wisconsin through 20 weeks of pregnancy.

After the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, providers believed an 1849 law effectively banned abortions. In 2023, a state judge ruled the law does not ban abortions and providers resumed performing abortions in the state. An appeal of that ruling was made to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which has not yet responded.

This week, a report from Wisconsin Watch said a draft document showed the Wisconsin Supreme Court will hear arguments from Planned Parenthood that the right to an abortion is protected in the state constitution.

Also under state law: parents must receive counseling and wait 24 hours to have an abortion, state Medicaid does not cover abortions, only physicians can perform abortions, and the state provides protections from harassment and physical harm for anyone entering an abortion clinic.

Illinois

Abortion is legal in Illinois until fetal viability, which is generally considered 24 to 26 weeks of pregnancy. The protection is codified in state law.

Also under state law: state Medicaid funds cover abortions, private insurance plans are required to cover abortions, qualified health care professionals as well as physicians can provide abortions, and a state shield law protects abortion providers from investigations by other states and data privacy for patients.

Missouri

Abortion is banned in Missouri with limited exceptions after the state became one of the first in the nation to respond to the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court ruling.

The state’s abortion ban went into effect the same day as the Supreme Court ruling because state lawmakers had prepared a trigger law that was to take effect if the court overturned Roe v Wade.

Missouri’s abortion ban contains exceptions only to save the pregnant person’s life or to prevent serious risk to the pregnant person’s physical health. Anyone found guilty of performing an abortion is guilty of a felony.

Nebraska

Abortion is banned in Nebraska after 12 weeks of pregnancy after a new law passed by state lawmakers in 2023.

Also under state law: parents must receive counseling and wait 24 hours after to have an abortion, state Medicaid does not cover abortions and private health insurance is banned from covering abortions except in limited cases, and only physicians can perform abortions.

South Dakota

Abortion is banned in South Dakota with limited exceptions after the state became one of the first in the nation to respond to the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court ruling.

The state’s abortion ban went into effect the same day as the Supreme Court ruling because state lawmakers had prepared a trigger law that was to take effect if the court overturned Roe v Wade.

South Dakota’s abortion ban contains an exception only to save the pregnant person’s life. Anyone found guilty of prescribing or performing an abortion is guilty of a felony.

Comments: (515) 355-1300, erin.murphy@thegazette.com