Women's Issues

Iowa Lawmakers Approve The Nation's Strictest Abortion Legislation

The so-called "heartbeat" bill passed the state's House and Senate.

Iowa Lawmakers Approve The Nation's Strictest Abortion Legislation
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Iowa lawmakers have approved what could be the most restrictive abortion legislation in the U.S.

The so-called "heartbeat" bill passed the state’s House Tuesday night and the Senate Wednesday morning.

The legislation will now head to Gov. Kim Reynolds' desk for her signature. She hasn't said whether she'll sign it.

If the bill becomes law, it would effectively ban abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, which is usually around six weeks of pregnancy.

But critics argue that would bar some women from getting the procedure before they even know they're pregnant.

Current Iowa law bans abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.