Des Moines, Iowa (RI) — An Iowa House subcommittee has approved a bill that would mandate that Iowa providers of medication abortions post a sign saying that it may be possible to reverse the effects of an abortion-inducing drug.
The bill also calls on those providers to give patients a printed copy of the same information. Jeff Pitts, a lobbyist for the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition, backs the bill.
Opponents say the bill would require giving women inaccurate information. Dane Schumann, a lobbyist for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, says the bill means doctors could be sanctioned or lose their medical license for sharing information that’s not backed up by research.
The bill also could give Iowa’s attorney general a new legal basis for lawsuits challenging out of state doctors who prescribe abortion pills that are mailed to Iowans. Ryan Benn is legal counsel for The Family Leader, an evangelical Christian group.
[RIkayabortionpills1] :05 :of abortion drugs.” <em>(as said) “That’s a really important issue,” Benn said. “We need to protect women and girls from the dangers of abortion drugs.”</em>
Becca Eastwood of the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa says the bill places unnecessary restrictions on obtaining medication which can end a pregnancy.
The bill says abortion-inducing drugs must be administered in a health care setting in Iowa — which would make sending abortion pills through the mail to an Iowa address illegal.
House subcommittee hearing on HSB186 was held at noon on Feb. 25, 2025. (RI photo)
