Iowa Passes Strict Anti-Abortion Law, Banning Most Abortions After Six Weeks of Pregnancy Des Moines, Iowa - In a late-night session on Tuesday, Iowa"s state legislature voted to pass a bill that will ban most abortions after approximately six weeks of pregnancy. The legislation, which was pushed by Republican lawmakers, will take immediate effect once Governor Kim Reynolds signs it on Friday. The bill, which received exclusively Republican support, prohibits abortions after the first sign of cardiac activity, which usually occurs around six weeks of pregnancy. However, there are exceptions for cases of rape or incest. Previously, abortions in the state were allowed up to 20 weeks. The passage of this legislation adds to the growing list of anti-abortion laws that have been enacted across various states since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. It is seen as a significant victory for anti-abortion advocates. The marathon special session lasted for more than 14 hours, with protests from Democratic lawmakers and abortion advocates. Despite objections, the bill passed with a 56-34 vote in the House, followed by a 32-17 vote in the Senate. Protesters in the gallery expressed their disapproval by booing and shouting “shame” at the state senators. Governor Reynolds called for the special session after the state Supreme Court struck down a previous law in 2019. She expressed her support for the new legislation, stating that the voices of Iowans and their elected representatives should not be ignored. The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa, Planned Parenthood, and the Emma Goldman Clinic have vowed to challenge the law in court. They are expected to file legal challenges to block the legislation once it is signed into law. Planned Parenthood North Central States has already announced that it will refer patients out of state if they have scheduled abortions in the coming weeks. Under the new law, abortions will only be allowed in limited circumstances, such as cases of rape reported to law enforcement or a health provider within 45 days, incest reported within 145 days, fetal abnormalities incompatible with life, or if the pregnancy endangers the life of the pregnant woman. Critics argue that the six-week cutoff is impractical and irresponsible. Medical experts also point out that the concept of a "fetal heartbeat" at this stage does not align with scientific terminology, as an embryo does not develop into a fetus until the 11th week of pregnancy. While supporters of the law, such as the Iowa Catholic Conference, believe it protects the rights of the unborn, opponents argue that it infringes on women"s reproductive rights and freedom of choice. Democratic lawmakers proposed amendments to expand the exceptions but were swiftly rejected. The passing of this bill highlights the ongoing battle over abortion rights in the United States, with Republican-led states enacting stricter laws and Democratic-led states pushing to protect and expand access to abortion services.