The nation's strictest abortion ban is now law. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signs 'fetal heartbeat' bill

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Friday signed into law the most restrictive abortion ban in the nation, surrounded by toddler-toting supporters.

As Reynolds inked the bill, backers' cheers nearly drowned out the echoing chorus of “My body, my choice” shouted by protesters just outside the door.

“I believe that all innocent life is precious and sacred,” Reynolds said from her formal office before signing a bill that will outlaw nearly all abortions in the state. “And as governor, I have pledged to do everything in my power to protect it. And that’s what I’m doing today.”

Senate File 359 will take effect July 1, though Planned Parenthood of the Heartland and the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa said they plan to quickly challenge the law.

Under the legislation, physicians will be barred from performing most abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected. Experts said that heartbeat can be heard about six weeks into a pregnancy — often before a woman realizes she’s pregnant.

Reynolds’ signature comes the same day lawmakers in South Carolina failed to advance a similarly restrictive bill out of their Republican-controlled Legislature amid Democrat-led filibusters.

More: Here's how nearby states compare on abortion restrictions.

Long road to law

The change has been a priority for Iowa’s anti-abortion advocates since Republicans gained control of the Legislature and the governor’s office two years ago.

But its passage was far from certain.

There were efforts last year to advance a so-called “heartbeat ban,” but without the votes to finalize the bill, Republicans instead approved a 20-week abortion ban.

That had stood among the most restrictive abortion laws in the nation. But some Iowa Republican lawmakers entered the 2018 legislative session hoping to go even further.

Timeline: How Iowa's 'fetal heartbeat' bill became law this session

The Iowa Senate approved legislation earlier this year instituting a fetal heartbeat ban, but action stalled in the House, where many Republicans felt the existing 20-week ban was sufficient.

In the final days of the legislative session, a small group of Republican senators threatened to withhold their votes on critical, session-ending budget bills until the House called the abortion bill to a vote.

House leaders brokered a deal to create new exceptions to the ban in some cases of rape, incest and fetal anomaly.

More: What are the exceptions to Iowa's anti-abortion legislation?

The measure came to the floor and passed with the bare minimum number of votes — 51 to 46 — late Tuesday night.

Six Republicans voted against the ban, siding with Democrats who fought the measure through nine hours of heated and emotional debate.

After its passage, the Senate immediately took up the legislation and passed it on a 29-17 vote at 2:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Reynolds’ office received the bill Thursday morning and, after declining to say whether she would sign it, announced mid-day Friday she would give it her signature.

About 100 people — lobbyists, legislators, faith leaders and children — were present Friday to applaud Reynolds’ signature.

Reynolds used dozens of pens in the process, handed them out afterward to those who helped make the bill a reality.

The first went to Rep. Shannon Lundgren, R-Dubuque, who helped guide the bill through the Iowa House of Representatives.

“It’s very emotional,” Lundgren said. “You look at these little girls that I was holding, and they wouldn’t have been here had their parents chosen a different path for them. These are human beings.”

More: Here's what some Iowa women are saying about the 'fetal heartbeat' bill

But even as she and her supporters celebrated, Reynolds acknowledged the opposition outside the closed office doors.

“I understand that not everyone will agree with this decision,” she said. “But if death is determined when a heart stops beating, then doesn’t a beating heart indicate life?”

A couple dozen women gathered in protest, some holding wire coat hangers intended to represent the lengths to which some women would go to terminate a pregnancy before abortion became legal and available.

They chanted Iowa’s state motto, “Our liberties we prize, our rights we will maintain,” as supporters exited the closed-door bill-signing ceremony.

Jennifer Weatherby, 32, the creative director at the RAYGUN store in Des Moines’ East Village, was among the chanting protesters.

“I am extremely sympathetic of the resistance to this bill,” she said. “It puts women in danger. We know that abortion bans don’t end abortion. This just ends safe abortion.”

Hope to overturn Roe v. Wade

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 Donald Trump appoints more conservative federal judges, abortion opponents are increasingly optimistic.

“I understand and I anticipate that this will likely be challenged in court, and that courts may even put on hold a law until it reaches the Supreme Court,” Reynolds said. “However, this is bigger than just a law. This is about life. And I’m not going to back down from who I am or what I believe in.”

More: Republicans hope a challenge to Iowa's fetal heartbeat bill will overturn Roe v. Wade. How would that work?

The Iowa attorney general’s office, led by Democrat Tom Miller, is responsible for defending state laws in court. Miller has not yet said whether he would recuse himself from the case.

Reynolds, asked whether she is comfortable with Miller defending the case, said “we will determine that once the suit is filed.”

“But there are also individuals who are pro-life who are interested in also being a part of this and participating in the next step,” she said. “So we have also had people who have reached out to us.”

The bill’s opponents pledged to continue fighting.

“Decisions about whether to end a pregnancy, choose adoption or raise a child are best made by a woman, her doctor and her family," said ACLU of Iowa Executive Director Mark Stringer. “… And so the ACLU of Iowa stands with Iowa women to protect their fundamental right to control their bodies and their lives.”

How did your legislator vote?

Republicans voting “Yes” (51)

Terry C. Baxter, Hancock Co.; Michael Bergan, Winneshiek Co.; Brian Best, Carroll Co.; Jacob Bossman, Woodbury Co.; Gary Carlson, Muscatine Co.; Peter Cownie, Polk Co.; Dave Deyoe, Story Co.; Cecil Dolecheck, Ringgold Co.; Dean Fisher, Tama Co.; Joel Fry, Clarke Co.; Tedd Gassman, Winnebago Co.; Pat Grassley, Butler Co.; Stan Gustafson, Madison Co.; Chris Hagenow, Polk Co.; Kristi Hager, Allamakee Co.; Mary Ann Hanusa, Pottawattamie Co.; Greg Heartsill, Marion Co.; David E. Heaton, Henry Co.; Jake Highfill, Polk Co.; Ashley Hinson, Linn Co.; Steven Holt, Crawford Co.; Chuck Holz, Plymouth Co.; Daniel A. Huseman, Cherokee Co.; Jon A. Jacobsen, Pottawattamie Co.; Megan Jones, Clay Co.; Bobby Kaufmann, Cedar Co.; David Kerr, Louisa Co.; Jarad J. Klein, Washington Co.; Kevin Koester, Polk Co.; John Landon, Polk Co.; Shannon Lundgren, Dubuque Co.; Gary Mohr, Scott Co.; Norlin Mommsen, Clinton Co.; Tom Moore, Cass Co.; Zach Nunn, Polk Co.; Ross Paustian, Scott Co.; Dawn E. Pettengill, Benton Co.; Ken Rizer, Linn Co.; Walt Rogers, Black Hawk Co.; Sandy Salmon, Black Hawk Co.; Mike Sexton, Calhoun Co.; Larry Sheets, Appanoose Co.; David Sieck, Mills Co.; Rob Taylor, Dallas Co.; Linda L. Upmeyer, Cerro Gordo Co.; Guy Vander Linden, Mahaska Co.; Ralph C. Watts, Dallas Co.; Skyler Wheeler, Sioux Co.; John H. Wills, Dickinson Co.; Matt W. Windschitl, Harrison Co.; Gary Worthan, Buena Vista Co.

Republicans voting “No” (6)

Chip Baltimore, Boone Co.; Jane Bloomingdale, Worth Co.; Lee Hein, Jones Co.; Dave Maxwell, Poweshiek Co.; Andy McKean, Jones Co.; Louie Zumbach, Linn Co.

Republicans absent (2)

Rob Bacon, Story Co.; Clel Baudler, Adair Co.

Democrats voting “Yes” (0)

None

Democrats voting “No” (40)

Ako Abdul-Samad, Polk Co.; Marti Anderson, Polk Co.; Bruce Bearinger, Fayette Co.; Liz Bennett, Linn Co.; Wes Breckenridge, Jasper Co.; Timi Brown-Powers, Black Hawk Co.; Dennis M. Cohoon, Des Moines Co.; Abby Finkenauer, Dubuque Co.; John Forbes, Polk Co.; Mary Gaskill, Wapello Co.; Chris Hall, Woodbury Co.; Lisa Heddens, Story Co.; Bruce L. Hunter, Polk Co.; Charles Isenhart, Dubuque Co.; Dave Jacoby, Johnson Co.; Timothy Kacena, Woodbury Co.; Jerry A. Kearns, Lee Co.; Bob Kressig, Black Hawk Co.; Monica Kurth, Scott Co.; Vicki S. Lensing, Johnson Co.; Mary Mascher, Johnson Co.; Charlie McConkey, Pottawattamie Co.; Brian Meyer, Polk Co.; Helen Miller, Webster Co.; Phil Miller, Jefferson Co.; Amy Nielsen, Johnson Co.; Jo Oldson, Polk Co.; Rick Olson, Polk Co.; Scott Ourth, Warren Co.; Todd Prichard, Floyd Co.; Kirsten Running-Marquardt, Linn Co.; Mark Smith, Marshall Co.; Ras Smith, Black Hawk Co.; Art Staed, Linn Co.; Sharon S. Steckman, Cerro Gordo Co.; Todd E. Taylor, Linn Co.; Phyllis Thede, Scott Co.; Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, Story Co.; Cindy Winckler, Scott Co.; Mary Lynn Wolfe, Clinton Co.

Democrats absent (1)

Ruth Ann Gaines, Polk Co.

How did your senator vote?

Republicans voting “Yes” (28)

Jerry Behn, Boone Co.; Rick Bertrand, Woodbury Co.; Michael Breitbach, Clayton Co.; Waylon Brown, Mitchell Co.; Jim Carlin, Woodbury Co.; Jake Chapman, Dallas Co.; Mark Chelgren, Wapello Co.; Mark Costello, Mills Co.; Dan Dawson, Pottawattamie Co.; Jeff Edler, Marshall Co.; Randy Feenstra, Sioux Co.; Julian B. Garrett, Warren Co.; Thomas A. Greene, Des Moines Co.; Dennis Guth, Hancock Co.; Craig Johnson, Buchanan Co.; Tim L. Kapucian, Benton Co.; Tim Kraayenbrink, Webster Co.; Mark S. Lofgren, Muscatine Co.; Ken Rozenboom, Mahaska Co.; Charles Schneider, Dallas Co.; Jason Schultz, Crawford Co.; Mark Segebart, Crawford Co.; Tom Shipley, Adams Co.; Amy Sinclair, Wayne Co.; Roby Smith, Scott Co.; Annette Sweeney, Hardin Co.; Jack Whitver, Polk Co.; Brad Zaun, Polk Co.

Republicans voting “No” (0)

None

Republicans absent (1)

Dan Zumbach, Delaware Co.

Democrats voting “Yes” (0)

None

Democrats voting “No” (17)

Joe Bolkcom, Johnson Co.; Nate Boulton, Polk Co.; Tod R. Bowman, Jackson Co.; Jeff Danielson, Black Hawk Co.; William A. Dotzler Jr., Black Hawk Co.; Robert E. Dvorsky, Johnson Co.; Rita Hart, Clinton Co.; Robert Hogg, Linn Co.; Wally E. Horn, Linn Co.; Pam Jochum, Dubuque Co.; Kevin Kinney, Johnson Co.; Jim Lykam, Scott Co.; Liz Mathis, Linn Co.; Matt McCoy, Polk Co.; Janet Petersen, Polk Co.; Herman C. Quirmbach, Story Co.; Amanda Ragan, Cerro Gordo Co.

Democrats absent (3)

Chaz Allen, Jasper Co.; Tony Bisignano, Polk Co.; Rich Taylor, Henry Co.

Independents voting “Yes” (1)

David Johnson, Osceola Co.