Gov. Kim Reynolds is calling lawmakers back to the Iowa Capitol for a rare special session to pass new abortion restrictions after suffering a defeat at the Iowa Supreme Court.
Reynolds, a Republican, announced Wednesday she would call the special session for July 11 “with the sole purpose of enacting legislation that addresses abortion and protects unborn lives.”
“I believe the prolife movement is the most important human rights cause of our time,” Reynolds said in a statement.
“Not only will I continue to fight against the inhumanity of abortion, but I will also remain committed to supporting women in planning for motherhood, promoting fatherhood and parenting, and continuing policies that encourage strong families.”
Is abortion legal in Iowa now?
Anti-abortion activists and some lawmakers have been clamoring for a special session since the Iowa Supreme Court deadlocked 3-3 in a major abortion case last month. The tie vote permanently blocked a 2018 law that would have banned nearly all abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy.
Reynolds criticized the court’s inaction in her statement and in her proclamation announcing the special session.
“This lack of action disregards the will of Iowa voters and lawmakers who will not rest until the unborn are protected by law,” she said.
Currently, abortion is legal in Iowa up to 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Republicans hold large majorities in the Iowa House and Senate, but lawmakers did not pass any new abortion restrictions this year before adjourning the regular legislative session in early May.
What did the Iowa Supreme Court ruling signify for future abortion laws?
Reynolds and top Republican state lawmakers preferred to wait for the outcome of the Iowa Supreme Court case, where they hoped they would receive additional guidance about what sort of legal standard the courts will use to examine abortion restrictions after court rulings last year overturned state and federal abortion protections.
But last month’s tie vote left lawmakers with little clarity. Because of the deadlock, none of the justices’ writings in the case hold any value as court precedent and can’t be relied on to determine how the court could rule in the future.
More:Iowa Supreme Court deadlocks 3-3 on ‘fetal heartbeat’ abortion ban. It won’t go into effect.
What type of abortion law might Iowa Republicans try to pass?
It’s not clear what type of law Republicans will pursue during the special session. Many current lawmakers were not in office in 2018 when the Legislature passed the “fetal heartbeat” law, banning abortions when the first cardiac impulses can be detected in an embryo, which comes at about six weeks.
Some want to go further and ban abortion altogether, while others may be content to pass a bill that matches the 2018 law, or something less restrictive.
Iowa Democrats say they will fight abortion restrictions
Democrats, who are in the minority, have said they will fight any new restrictions on abortion.
Matt Sinovic, executive director of Progress Iowa, said in a statement that Reynolds called the special session “to take freedom away from Iowans.”
“Iowans believe in reproductive freedom,” Sinovic said. “And the Iowa courts refused to do Reynolds’ dirty work, so she’s calling a special session. Now it’s time to use our collective voice to stop the governor and MAGA legislature from ripping away our rights.”
A Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll from March found 61% of Iowans say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, while 35% say the procedure should be illegal in all or most cases.
Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Des Moines Register, a member of the USA TODAY Network. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or on Twitter at @sgrubermiller.