Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds enacted a law on Friday prohibiting most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, sparking immediate legal challenges. The legislation, signed at the Family Leadership Summit, an evangelical Christian gathering, bans abortions once cardiac activity is detectable, typically around six weeks. Reynolds emphasized the significance of a heartbeat as a sign of life, stating that "when it falls silent, something precious has been lost."

The law includes exceptions for miscarriages, threats to the mother's life, fatal fetal abnormalities, rape (reported within 45 days), and incest (reported within 140 days). It comes after the Iowa Supreme Court declined to reinstate a similar 2018 ban. Reynolds stressed this law's importance as "an ironclad commitment to the smallest and most vulnerable among us."

The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa, Planned Parenthood, and other organizations filed a lawsuit challenging the ban before its signing. They argue that the law infringes upon Iowans' reproductive rights and will disproportionately affect marginalized communities. Planned Parenthood's president, Alexis McGill Johnson, vowed to fight the ban in court.

A Polk County district court judge heard arguments on Friday regarding a temporary injunction to halt the law's enforcement pending a final ruling, which is expected by Monday. Reynolds characterized the lawsuit as going "against the will of the people." Several Republican presidential candidates were present at the summit where the bill was signed.