Iowa legislators approve 20-week abortion ban, three-day waiting period

Iowa+State+Capitol+in+Des+Moines.

Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines.

Michael Heckle

A controversial bill that would restrict abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy and create a three-day waiting period for women seeking abortions passed through the Republican-controlled Iowa Legislature Tuesday, according to the Associated Press.

The AP reported that the Iowa Senate voted 30-20 for the bill, following its approval in the Iowa House earlier this month. 

The bill will head to Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad’s desk, where he is expected to sign it into law. 

The bill will ban almost all abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, with no exceptions for incest or rape. 

Last month, the House amended the bill to rid any criminal penalties, however, it would allow the Iowa Board of Medicine to penalize physicians who violate the law.

Another amendment would allow doctors to conduct abortions after the 20-week mark if necessary to preserve the mother’s life.