DES MOINES, Iowa – The Iowa House Human Resources Committee on Tuesday passed three abortion-related bills dealing with clinic licensing, informed consent, and fetal remains. Policy bills must pass in committee by the end of the week in the chamber they originated in to still be considered during the session.
The first bill that passed in the committee was HSB 678, and it cleared its subcommittee earlier in the day. The legislation requires state licensure and inspection of individual abortion facilities.
The bill states that every individual abortion facility to operate must have a license contingent on demonstrating they have at least one physician on staff. They also must the requirements and adopted rules under Iowa Code Chapter 17A, the Iowa Administrative Procedure Act. The Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals will inspect facilities before a license is issued. According to the bill, before licenses dare renewed, facilities will undergo an annual inspection.
The second bill that passed was HSB 660, which cleared its subcommittee last week. The legislation states that aborted babies can only be buried, interred, or cremated. Babies who die as a result of a miscarriage or are born stillborn can also be donated, according to state law, for transplantation, therapy, research, or education. Abortion clinics must seek parental consent from a minor who received an abortion for the final disposition of the aborted baby.
This bill prevents the sale of fetal tissue by abortion clinics.
The third bill to pass was HSB 672, which cleared its subcommittee hearing last Thursday, requires abortionists to provide information to women seeking a medical abortion about the potential side effects and risks involved.
It requires that before a medical abortion is performed, a physician must inform women of all of the risks commonly associated with a medical abortion. Also, they are to be told that it may be possible to reverse the intended consequences of medical abortions, but time is of the essence to do so. It also requires abortion facilities to provide information and assistance on reversing medical abortions on their website and inform women seeking medical abortions of that link.
Each bill passed by a 11 to 10 party-line vote.
State Representatives Shannon Lundgren, R-Peosta, Ann Meyer, R-Fort Dodge, Robert Bacon, R-Slater, Michael Bergan, R-Dorchester, Brian Best, R-Glidden, Holly Brink, R-Oskaloosa, Cecil Dolecheck, R-Mount Ayr, Joel Fry, R-Osceola, Tom Moore, R-Griswold, Anne Osmundson, R-Volga, and Sandy Salmon, R-Janesville, voted in favor of the bill.
State Representatives Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, D-Ames, Marti Anderson, D-Des Moines, Timm Brown-Powers, D-Waterloo, Karin Derry, D-Johnston, Tracy Ehlert, D-Cedar Rapids, John Forbes, D-Urbandale, Lindsay James, D-Dubuque, Heather Matson, D-Ankeny, Kristin Sunde, D-West Des Moines, and Ross Wilburn, D-Ames, voted against.