Iowa's Six-Week Abortion Ban Takes Effect

An Iowa judge has ruled that the state's six-week abortion ban, known as the 'fetal heartbeat' law, will officially take effect on July 29, limiting access to abortion before many women are aware of their pregnancies. The law prohibits abortions once cardiac activity is detected, typically around six weeks, with exceptions for rape, incest, severe fetal abnormalities, and life-threatening conditions for the mother. This ruling follows a recent Iowa Supreme Court decision which stated there is no constitutional right to abortion in the state, enabling Republican leaders to celebrate a significant legislative victory. Planned Parenthood and other organizations have indicated their intent to continue providing abortion services despite the new restrictions and have raised concerns about the law's constitutionality. The law was initially passed during a special session in 2023 but faced legal challenges that temporarily blocked its enforcement. As Iowa joins over a dozen states with similar restrictions post-Roe v. Wade, the implications for women's reproductive rights in the state remain contentious.