Bills › 91st General Assembly
Creating the compassion and care for medically challenging pregnancies Act
Sponsored by the House Health and Human Services Committee, Rep. Eddie Andrews (R), Rep. Dan Gehlbach (R), Rep. David E. Young (R)
Topics:Health careReproductive rights
Same legislation: HF 589
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 25, 2025
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 27, 2025
- Done: House committeeMarch 3, 2025
- Done: Passes the HouseMarch 24, 202595–0
- Stopped: Senate committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The 2026 session adjourned on May 3, 2026, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary When a doctor finds out a baby has a fatal medical condition before birth, they can tell the pregnant person about perinatal hospice services. The Department of Health and Human Services will create a list of these services in both English and Spanish and put it on their website. This list will help people find support and information if they choose to continue their pregnancy.1
Read the official explanation
This bill creates the “Compassion and Care for Medically Challenging Pregnancies Act”. The bill provides definitions for “department”, “health care practitioner”, “lethal fetal anomaly”, and “perinatal hospice service” as used in the bill. The bill provides that a health care practitioner who diagnoses a lethal fetal anomaly may inform the pregnant woman, orally and in person, that perinatal hospice services are available and offer to refer the pregnant woman for such services; or provide the pregnant woman with the list and information sheet regarding available perinatal hospice services compiled and provided by the department of health and human services (HHS). The bill requires HHS to compile a geographically organized list of, and an information sheet regarding, perinatal hospice services available in Iowa and nationally. HHS shall post the list and information sheet, available in both English and Spanish, on HHS’s internet site. The internet site and information sheet shall include a statement indicating that perinatal hospice services are an innovative and compassionate model of support for the pregnant woman who is informed that her baby has a lethal fetal anomaly and chooses to continue her pregnancy; a general description of the perinatal hospice services available; and at the request of a perinatal hospice service included on the list, the perinatal hospice service’s informational materials and contact information, including whether 24-hour perinatal hospice services are available.
Why it matters. Health care practitioners who diagnose a lethal fetal anomaly can provide pregnant women with information and referrals for perinatal hospice services. The Department of Health and Human Services will create and post a list of available local and national services in both English and Spanish on its website.2
Changed since by amendment H-1052; see Amendments.
Senate subcommittee
Named March 26, 2025. Meeting: Wednesday, April 2 · 10:00 AM · Room 217 Conference Room.
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
4 written public comments to its subcommittee: April 2, 2025 (2), March 3, 2025 (2) · on the Legislature’s site
Iowa Code it changes
Lobbying
11 for · 0 against · 12 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.
- HF 2155 Creating the compassion and care for medically challenging pregnancies Act90th General Assembly · Renumbered as HF 2395 · same titleCleared committee
- HF 2395 Creating the compassion and care for medically challenging pregnancies Act90th General Assembly · Approved by committee · same titleCleared committee
Matched by wording or an identical title.