Iowa’s strict abortion law, which prohibits most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy, went into effect on Monday. The law was pushed by Iowa’s Republican leaders and gained momentum after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. The Iowa Supreme Court also ruled that there was no constitutional right to abortion in the state, leading Governor Kim Reynolds to express her support for the law. Currently, four states in the country ban abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy, and 14 states have near-total bans at all stages.
Iowa’s abortion providers have been fighting the new law but are still preparing for it by shoring up abortion access in neighboring states and drawing on the lessons learned where bans went into effect more swiftly. They have expressed their commitment to continuing to operate in Iowa in compliance with the new law. Planned Parenthood North Central States’ chief medical officer, Sarah Traxler, called the law a “devastating and dark” moment in state history, while expressing concern about the long-term impacts it would have on Iowans.
The law in Iowa and similar restrictions across the country will be a central focus of the 2024 election, with Republicans celebrating their successes and Democrats criticizing them as an attack on women’s rights. Vice President Kamala Harris has emphasized the importance of reproductive rights in this context. The law was passed by the Republican-controlled legislature in a special session last year, but faced immediate legal challenges from organizations like the ACLU and Planned Parenthood. The law prohibits abortions after cardiac activity can be detected, which is roughly at six weeks, with limited exceptions for cases of rape, incest, fetal abnormality, or life-threatening situations.
Providers have been making investments within and outside of Iowa to prepare for the restrictions, with Planned Parenthood even remodeling its center in Omaha, Nebraska and offering medication abortion in Mankato, Minnesota to help individuals access care. However, there are concerns that the restrictions will exacerbate health inequalities for Iowa’s women of color and those from low-income households. Across the country, the status of abortion has been in flux since the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, with various states passing new restrictions or expansions of access and court battles putting laws on hold.
Overall, the implementation of Iowa’s strict abortion law marks a significant development in the ongoing debate over reproductive rights in the United States. The law has sparked intense political reactions and legal challenges, with both Republicans and Democrats gearing up for a contentious battle over the issue in the upcoming elections. The impact of the law on women’s access to abortion services, especially those in marginalized communities, is a key concern for providers and advocates as they navigate the changing landscape of reproductive healthcare.
