Iowa Republicans Push for Controversial Abortion Ban in Special Session

Iowa Republicans are pushing for new restrictions on abortion in a special session of the Legislature, just weeks after a deadlocked Iowa Supreme Court left a six-week abortion ban unenforceable. With Republican majorities in both chambers and a governor who strongly opposes abortion, the new restrictions are expected to pass. The proposed bill allows for abortions up to about six weeks of pregnancy, with exceptions for cases involving rape, incest, serious danger to the woman's life, certain permanent injuries, or fetal abnormalities "incompatible with life." The session reflects Iowa's political shift to the right and would further limit access to abortion in the Midwest. However, the new law would likely face legal challenges, and neighboring states with permissive abortion laws could become destinations for Iowa women seeking abortions.