Bills › 91st General Assembly
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa relating to the right to reproductive care
Sponsored by Sen. Liz Bennett (D), Sen. Tony Bisignano (D), Sen. Matt Blake (D), Sen. Molly Donahue (D), Sen. William A. Dotzler Jr. (D), Sen. Janet Petersen (D), Sen. Art Staed (D), Sen. Thomas Townsend (D), Sen. Zach Wahls (D), Sen. Janice Weiner (D), Sen. Cindy Winckler (D)
Topics:Reproductive rights
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 23, 2025
- Stopped: Approved in committeeDid not pass
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: Passes again next General AssemblyThe same wording, after an election
- Next: Voters decideOn the next general election ballot
Did not pass It didn’t pass both chambers before the General Assembly ended. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary This amendment would add a right to reproductive freedom to the Iowa Constitution, protecting personal decisions about things like prenatal care, contraception, and abortion. It prevents the state from interfering with these choices unless there is a very important reason to do so. While the state could regulate abortion care after a fetus is able to survive outside the womb, it cannot stop an abortion if a doctor decides it is necessary to protect the health or life of the pregnant person.1
Read the official explanation
This joint resolution proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa relating to the right to reproductive care specifying: 1. The state shall not deny or interfere with an individual’s reproductive freedom and an individual’s most private decisions concerning reproductive freedom shall not be infringed. Reproductive freedom includes but is not limited to prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, contraception, sterilization, abortion care, miscarriage management, and infertility care. 2. An individual’s right to reproductive freedom shall not be denied, burdened, or infringed upon unless justified by a compelling state interest achieved by the least restrictive means. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, the state may regulate the provision of abortion care after fetal viability, provided that under no circumstance shall the state prohibit an abortion that, in the professional judgment of an attending health care professional, is medically indicated to protect the life or physical or mental health of the pregnant individual. “Fetal viability” is defined as the point in pregnancy when, in the professional judgment of an attending health care professional and based on the particular facts of the case, there is a significant likelihood of sustained survival of the fetus outside the uterus without the application of extraordinary medical measures. The joint resolution, if adopted, would be published and then referred to the next general assembly (92nd) for adoption, before being submitted to the electorate for ratification.
Why it matters. Iowa residents would gain a fundamental constitutional right to reproductive freedom, covering decisions related to prenatal, childbirth, postpartum, contraception, sterilization, abortion, miscarriage management, and infertility care. The state would be prohibited from denying or interfering with these private decisions unless it has a compelling interest and uses the least restrictive means possible. While the state could regulate abortion care after fetal viability, it cannot prohibit an abortion if a healthcare professional determines it is medically necessary to protect the life or physical or mental health of the pregnant person.2
Senate subcommittee
Named January 27, 2025. It hasn’t reported yet.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
Lobbying
10 for · 7 against · 0 undecided · Who →
Family tree
91st General Assembly
Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title.
Tried before
This idea has been filed in an earlier General Assembly. None got through a chamber.
- SJR 2001 Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa relating to the right to r…90th General Assembly · In committee · same titleCleared committee
- HJR 9 Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa relating to the right to r…90th General Assembly · In committee · very similarCleared committee
Similar bills this General Assembly
- HJR 10 Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa relating to the right to r…91st General Assembly · In committeeVery similar
- SJR 2003 Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa relating to the right to r…91st General Assembly · In committeeSimilar
Matched by wording or an identical title.