Iowa lawmakers to consider new abortion rules
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Lawmakers meet Monday to consider state agency rules linked with Iowa's recent abortion ban, which will influence how state agencies enforce the legislation.
Catch up fast: The law would ban nearly all abortion procedures after a heartbeat is detected, usually around the sixth week of pregnancy.
Yes, but: The legislation is currently blocked while legal challenges continue.
- The rules being considered would only be used if the law takes effect.
Meanwhile, abortion remains legal in Iowa up to around the 22nd week of gestation.
Between the lines: Abortion advocates and critics have said the proposed rules fail to clarify ambiguities, like how some exceptions to the law would be made.
State of play: The Administrative Rules Review Committee (ARRC) is made up of five Iowa senators and five representatives.
- They will consider the Iowa Board of Medicine's proposed rules, or "Notice of Intended Action."
- The public is allowed to comment.
Of note: The ARRC can object to the final rules that are ultimately adopted by the medicine board as part of a multi-step process that can take months to complete.
- An objection would eliminate the presumption that the rule is legally valid if it is challenged in court.
If you go: The meeting starts at 7am at the Capitol with the abortion rules segment starting approximately at 12:35pm, though the timing of ARRC agenda items is difficult to predict and participants are encouraged to arrive at least 45 minutes early.
- You can also track the meeting online.