Iowa's fetal heartbeat law goes into effect Monday

(The Center Square) – A law banning abortion as soon as a fetal heartbeat is detected will take effect on Monday, a judge ruled.

Gov. Kim Reynolds called it a "victory for life."

“As the fetal heartbeat law finally takes effect, our work will continue to strengthen a culture of life in Iowa," the governor said in a statement. "I remain deeply committed to supporting women in planning for motherhood, promoting the importance of fatherhood, elevating adoption, and protecting in vitro fertilization. Families are the foundation of society, and policies that encourage strong families will make our state and country strong for generations to come.”

Iowa lawmakers passed the bill during a special session in 2023. Exceptions were made in the law for medical emergencies and pregnancies that resulted from rape or incest.

Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, the Emma Goldman Clinic, the American Civil Liberties Union and Sarah Traxler sued to stop the law, saying it violated a woman's right to abortion under the due process clause of the Iowa Constitution. A District Court issued a temporary injunction, saying the case would likely succeed on its merits.

The Iowa Supreme Court overruled the lower court 4-3. The decision sent the case back to the District Court, which ruled that the law would go into effect.

"Iowans will lose the ability to make private medical decisions even though most of us believe abortion should remain legal," the ACLU of Iowa said in a post on its Facebook page.