Iowa lawmakers pass amendment requiring 24-hour waiting period for abortions. | Pixabay
Iowa lawmakers pass amendment requiring 24-hour waiting period for abortions. | Pixabay
Iowa lawmakers recently passed an amendment to the state's abortion laws requiring women to wait 24 hours before getting an abortion.
This means women seeking an abortion cannot receive the procedure during their initial appointment. The amendment also requires patients to view an ultrasound of the fetus and receive adoption information.
The legislation, spearheaded by Republicans in the state House and Senate, is headed to Gov. Kim Reynolds for approval.
Democratic lawmakers voiced opposition, saying Republicans exploited the pandemic to pass the legislation.
"They've kept this plan secret for weeks and released it on a Saturday night, so they didn't have to hear from Iowans,” Rep. Jo Oldson, House Democratic Whip, said to KCCI. “It's time for Iowa Republican lawmakers to be more transparent and stop the relentless attacks on the rights of Iowa women."
Rep. Sharon Lundgren countered by saying, "We're always thinking ahead and thinking about how we can advance the life movement in the state of Iowa."
In response to the legislation, Planned Parenthood said, “Our representatives must focus on Iowans' real priorities, like we saw in the House a few nights ago with the police reform bill. Yet tonight, legislators prioritized their personal ideologies at the expense of our sexual and reproductive health freedom. Iowans need leaders who truly represent us and our values."
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