(Des Moines) Iowa is on track to enforce stricter restrictions on abortion, as the state’s supreme court has upheld a law prohibiting abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. This law will replace the current ban on abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Planned Parenthood has reported an increase in patients traveling to Illinois for abortions due to the restrictions in other states, despite ongoing legal battles. Supporters of the law aimed to protect life from conception, while opponents advocated for individual choice in reproductive decisions.
The Iowa State Supreme Court is upholding a 2023 law put on hold by an Iowa judge days after it was passed. In most cases, the electrical impulse of a heartbeat can be heard by a doctor as early as six weeks. The law makes an exception for rape or incest.