DES MOINES – After receiving the bill Thursday morning, Gov. Reynolds signed the fetal heartbeat bill into law Friday afternoon.
Reynolds’ office has been fielding phone calls from opponents and supporters of the bill. State lawmakers passed the bill in the wee hours of Wednesday morning. When the governor signs it into law, it will become the most restrictive abortion ban in the entire country.
The legislation bans abortions once a fetus’s heartbeat is detected. That usually happens at six weeks in a pregnancy. The new law gives exceptions to rape and incest.
Gov. Reynolds issued the following statement after signing the bill:
“I believe that all innocent life is precious and sacred, and as governor, I pledged to do everything in my power to protect it. That is what I am doing today. I understand that not everyone will agree with this decision. But if death is determined when a heart stops beating, then doesn’t a beating heart indicate life? For me, it is immoral to stop an innocent beating heart. For me, it is sickening to sell fetal body parts. For me, my faith leads me to protect every Iowan, no matter how small. I understand and anticipate that this will likely be challenged in court, and that courts may even put a hold on the law until it reaches the Supreme Court. However, this is bigger than just a law. This is about life. I am not going to back down from who I am or what I believe in.”