Iowa’s state legislature approved a measure Wednesday that would bar doctors from completing abortions following the detection of a fetal heartbeat, which can occur as early as the sixth week of a pregnancy.
The measure includes exemptions in the case of rape or incest, or in events when the pregnant woman’s life is in danger. Iowa currently prohibits most abortions following the 20th week of pregnancy.
Republicans have a majority in both the Iowa House and Senate.
Some Iowa lawmakers view the bill as a catalyst to overturn Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that legalized the right to an abortion nationwide.
“This bill will be the vehicle that will ultimately provide change and provide the opportunity to overturn Roe v. Wade,” Republican state Sen. Rick Bertrand said during a floor debate of the measure. “There’s nothing hidden here about the agenda.”
A similar measure that outlawed abortions in North Dakota was passed in 2013, but ultimately was permanently blocked by the Supreme Court on the grounds that it was unconstitutional.
Groups such as Planned Parenthood expect the decision will be challenged in court and have accused Iowa Republicans of approving an “intentionally unconstitutional” measure.
“By passing an intentionally unconstitutional bill, Iowa Republicans have declared that they do not care about the foundational values of our state, or Iowa’s future,” Erin Davison-Rippey, public affairs director of Planned Parenthood Voters of Iowa, said in a statement.
“They do not care how much taxpayer money will be spent on a lawsuit,” she added.
The bill is headed to Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds’ desk. Although she has not signaled whether she intends to sign it, a spokesperson for the governor told CNN she remains committed to advocating for the unborn.
“Gov. Reynolds is 100% pro-life and will never stop fighting for the unborn,” the spokesperson said.
