Des Moines, Iowa, Mar 1, 2018 / 17:00 pm
On Wednesday, the Iowa Senate approved a measure 30-20 that would prohibit abortions in the state after a baby's heartbeat is detected during a pregnancy.
The legislation, Senate File 2281, moves that a physician cannot perform an abortion after a heartbeat has been detected. The measure would require that physicians test women before an abortion to determine the presence of a fetal heartbeat. The bill would make certain exceptions in cases of medical emergencies.
The legislation now moves on to the House of Representatives, which has a Republican majority.
A statement from the the Iowa Catholic Conference said that the state's bishops "support the life-affirming intent of 'heartbeat' abortion legislation such as Senate File 2281."