Republicans on an Iowa Senate committee have approved a bill that would make it a crime for Iowa doctors to perform abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected. Doctors could face up to five years in prison for performing an abortion after the sixth week of a pregnancy if the bill becomes law.
That’s Senator Amy Sinclair, a Republican from Allerton who’s guiding the bill through the legislative process.
The bill passed the Senate Judiciary Committee with the support of all eight Republicans. All five Democrats voted against it. Senate Democratic Leader Janet Petersen of Des Moines was the only opponent to speak during the committee meeting.
A new Iowa law that took effect in May of last year bans nearly all abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy. The 72-hour waiting period for all abortions that was included in that law is under judicial review.
