DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa Senate Democrats gathered at the statehouse Tuesday to announce new plans for protecting reproductive freedom.
While Gov. Kim Reynolds is still pushing for a six-week abortion ban, Democrats are ramping up their efforts to strike that ban down. Their plans include proposed changes to Iowa’s constitution, which has not been amended since 2022.
“Iowans have a right to live their lives without unnecessary intrusion from their government," said Senate Democratic Leader Pam Jochum, D-Dubuque, at a press conference. "The package of legislation we're announcing today guarantees those rights.”
Jochum and other Democratic state senators introduced their new legislative packet, which centers around a proposed amendment they want added to the Iowa Constitution. The amendment would protect the right to an abortion and other aspects of maternal care.
"Reproductive freedom matters to Iowans and those rights should be protected in the state's constitution," said Sen. Janet Peterson, D-Des Moines.
Others aspects of the package include access to over-the-counter birth control, expanded postpartum Medicaid coverage, and a state-run family planning program.
Reynolds also proposed an expansion to postpartum Medicaid coverage during her Condition of the State address. As of now, Medicaid covers only two months of postpartum care, but Reynolds' proposal would expand coverage to 12 months for mothers who made less than $42,000 a year.
“We're sponsoring legislation to increase access to birth control, reinstate vital family planning services and expand health care coverage for new moms and babies," Jochum said.
The chances of this new legislation moving through legislature may be slim, given that the statehouse is Republican-led. But Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott says they are working across the aisle to find common ground for Iowans.
“We're giving an opportunity to work together to really show that we affirm these freedoms, that we affirm this access," Trone Garriott said.
Jochum also said that their proposed measures "have unanimous support within our caucus and are favored by a strong majority of Iowans."
Abortion in Iowa remains legal up to 20 weeks of pregnancy. Governor Kim Reynolds’ "fetal heartbeat" ban is currently on hold due to a temporary injunction.