Iowa's predominantly Republican legislature passed a bill that would prohibit abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, a significant step toward enacting one of the most restrictive laws of its kind in the United States and one that Republicans hope would pave the way for a showdown at the U.S. Supreme Court.
The “heartbeat” bill, which would ban abortions as early as six weeks — around the time women generally feel early signs of pregnancy and before many even realize they are pregnant — was passed Tuesday by the Iowa House, 51-46. The state Senate passed the bill 29-17 early Wednesday, sending it to Gov. Kim Reynolds (R), who has said abortion is “equivalent to murder.”