Iowa Gov. Reynolds signs six-week abortion ban

Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds on Friday signed into law a ban on abortion in the state after six-weeks.

The ban forbids the procedure following the detection of a fetal heartbeat, which can occur as early as six weeks into the pregnancy. It provides exceptions for threats to the life and health of the mother, as well as cases of rape and incest should they be reported to police.

There is also an exception should the fetus have fatal abnormalities, The Hill reported.

"I have never been prouder to sign a bill into law," Reynolds said.

Pro-abortion groups such as the ACLU have already filed suit to challenge the ban.

The Hawkeye state borders Minnesota and Illinois, which have much more permissive abortion laws. Other neighbors such as Missouri, Wisconsin, and South Dakota, have moved to restrict the procedure. Missouri and South Dakota have near-total bans.

The state previously banned comparable legislation in 2018, before the Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to an abortion established in Roe v. Wade. The state Supreme Court deadlocked in June on whether to permit that ban to take effect.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.