Iowa Republicans pass six-week abortion ban

Iowa’s state legislature voted on Tuesday night to ban most abortions after around six weeks of pregnancy, a time before most people know they are pregnant. Republican lawmakers, which hold a majority in both the Iowa house and senate, passed the anti-abortion bill after governor Kim Reynolds called a special session to seek a vote on the ban.

Iowa’s ban will prohibit abortions after the first sign of cardiac activity, usually around six weeks, with some exceptions for cases of rape or incest. It will allow for abortions up until 20 weeks of pregnancy only under certain conditions of medical emergency. Abortions in the state were previously allowed up to 20 weeks.