Iowa bans nearly all abortions as governor signs 'fetal heartbeat' law

Brianne Pfannenstiel , William Petroski | The Des Moines Register

Show Caption Hide Caption Iowa gov. signs 'fetal heartbeat' abortion ban Governor Kim Reynolds’ of Iowa signed legislation Friday barring nearly all abortions in the state after a fetal heartbeat is detected. For more on the story here is Zachary Devita.

DES MOINES — Iowa's governor signed legislation Friday prohibiting nearly all abortions in the state after a fetal heartbeat is detected, making it the most restrictive abortion ban in the nation.

Security was tightened at the Iowa Capitol in advance of the signing and several state troopers were seen Friday afternoon outside Gov. Kim Reynolds’ formal office.

"I believe that all innocent life is precious and sacred, and as governor, I pledged to do everything in my power to protect it. That is what I am doing today," Reynolds said.

The bill received final approval early Wednesday from the Iowa Senate on a divided vote. The House passed the legislation Tuesday night.

► May 4: South Carolina abortion-ban bill dies in early morning vote

► May 2: Iowa lawmakers pass nation's most restrictive abortion bill

► May 2: GOP hopes a challenge to Iowa's abortion bill will overturn Roe v. Wade

The law, which goes into effect July 1 if the courts don't stop it, will require physicians to conduct an abdominal ultrasound to test for a fetal heartbeat on any woman seeking an abortion. If a heartbeat is detected, a physician cannot perform an abortion.

A fetal heartbeat can be detected about six weeks into a pregnancy and often before a woman realizes she’s pregnant, experts said.

Planned Parenthood for the Heartland, which is Iowa's largest provider of abortions, announced earlier Friday it would file a lawsuit if Reynolds signed the legislation.

► April 20: Federal judge rules Indiana abortion law Pence signed unconstitutional

► April 12: Kentucky sued over ban of abortion procedure used after 11 weeks

“It’s shameful that when Planned Parenthood heard lawmakers were introducing legislation to ban abortion, we were outraged — but we weren’t surprised," said Suzanna de Baca, president and chief executive officer of Planned Parenthood of the Heartland. "But I think many of us still never expected that Governor Reynolds would so swiftly jump to sign a bill that is so clearly unconstitutional."

Reynolds, a Republican who has been outspoken in her opposition to abortion, had declined to say Wednesday whether she would sign the legislation. She had said she would work with her staff before making any final decisions although faith-based lobbyists told The Des Moines Register they fully expected Reynolds would sign the bill.

Iowa law has barred most abortions after 20 weeks under legislation enacted last year. Those provisions already were among the most strict abortion bans in the country.

► March 30: Court: Trump administration can’t block immigrant teens from abortion

► March 20: Judge blocks Mississippi's 15-week abortion ban from going into effect

But many Iowa Republican lawmakers said they believe the time is right to pass legislation that could advance to the U.S. Supreme Court and pose a challenge to Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark case that found women have a constitutionally protected right to abortion.

The Supreme Court has declined to hear similar cases in recent years. But as states continue to pass legislation restricting abortions and President Trump appoints more conservative federal judges, abortion opponents are increasingly optimistic.

Follow Brianne Pfannenstiel and William Petroski on Twitter: @brianneDMR and @WilliamPetroski