Legislation of interest to the pro-life cause in Iowa includes:
HSB 41: Life Amendment
The Life Amendment would amend the Iowa Constitution to clarify that abortion is NOT a constitutional right. In order to take effect, it would have to be passed in two consecutive 2-year sessions of the legislature, such that an election occurs between the two sessions to allow other lawmakers to weigh in on it the second time. If the identical text is passed in a way that meets that criteria, it then goes to a vote of the people. If a majority of voters vote in favor of it, only then will it take effect. So people would have to get their lawmakers to pass the bill twice, and they should try to make sure lots of people understand what the bill really does and how important it is for it to go into effect.
Judges have claimed the constitution ensures a right to abortion, despite it not being explicitly called out. This makes it possible for judges to strike down nearly every law that seeks to protect human life. Practically every effort pro-lifers make to promote life-affirming and life-protecting bills can be undone by a judge.
The media often mischaracterizes this bill. Some more correctly point out that if this goes into effect, then some of Iowa’s laws are such that many abortions would be illegal, and more laws could be passed to make it illegal. But some reporters mischaracterize it by saying that if it passes, abortion will be illegal.
It’s important to note that this amendment makes the constitution NEUTRAL on the matter. If judges read into the constitution’s text some right, then it has the pro-abortion bias. With this statement that such a right is not granted by the constitution, then judges cannot make the claim that abortion is a right protected by the state’s constitution.
Many people have been led to believe that abortion is a constitutional right. Therefore, if that right is “taken away”, they assume that means abortion would be illegal. It’s important to note that not every law requires constitutional rights as their foundation.
An example of a non-constitutional right involves the treatment of animals. It’s horrible that some people abuse animals, even some to the point of disabling cats, dogs, or other animals. The state constitution does not grant animals rights to ensure they are treated respectfully. Yet, lawmakers can make laws and regulations can be made to protect animals by levying penalties on the people who abuse animals. This is just one of many examples, but knowing how much people care about their pets and rightly don’t want them to be harmed intentionally.
Without constitutional rights, lawmakers can pass laws on either side of the matter. Their constituents can hold them accountable if they pass laws that the constituents don’t agree with. This means that if pro-lifers pass laws that go too far beyond what the voters like, they may vote for people who then shift the laws at least a bit the other way. It may be more variable, but judges won’t be able to strike down laws that protect the most vulnerable among us, just because they believe they read some “right to abortion” in the state constitution.
Take Action
It helps to communicate to your lawmakers where you stand on bills. View our Contact Lawmakers page to learn how to contact your lawmakers.
It also helps to talk about these matters with other people who can also contact their lawmakers. That also helps them understand any matters they may have to vote on, such as public measures or constitutional amendments.
Disclaimer: Note that bill numbers often change in the course of a legislative session. Sometimes there are multiple bills in each the house and senate, and they have to consolidate them. We will try to keep bill numbers updated, but they may not always match.