This week at the Iowa Capitol, two closely watched bills affecting women’s reproductive healthcare — SSB 3115 and its House companion HSB 704 — advanced out of subcommittee.

Both proposals would place new restrictions on how reproductive healthcare, including medication abortion, is delivered in Iowa, particularly impacting telehealth access and care in rural communities.

What happened in subcommittee

Subcommittee meetings for both bills drew physicians, advocates, and members of the public to testify.

During the House subcommittee meeting on HSB 704, the hearing was unexpectedly cut short before all attendees were able to speak. Several physicians present to provide medical testimony, including representation connected to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) were initially unable to share their comments.

Fortunately, Representative Beth Wessel-Kroeschell yielded her time, allowing Dr. Francesca Turner to speak, who addressed concerns that the legislation does not reflect established medical evidence. Dr. Jenny Schuchmann, Vice Chair of ACOG’s Iowa Section, planned to share that ACOG does not support medication abortion “reversal” protocols and that such practices are not supported by high-quality scientific evidence.

Physicians emphasized that medication abortion reversal has not been proven safe or effective in rigorous clinical trials and that policies mandating or promoting it do not align with evidence-based standards of care.

Both SSB 3115 and HSB 704 now move to full committee consideration.

Other reproductive healthcare bills introduced this week

Two additional House bills were introduced that could significantly affect reproductive healthcare policy in Iowa:

House File 2316

HF 2316 would legally define an unborn child as a person starting at conception. If passed, this change could apply Iowa’s existing criminal and civil laws to pregnancies, including homicide and assault statutes. The bill was introduced and referred to the House Judiciary Committee. It has not yet been scheduled for subcommittee and has not advanced at this time.

House File 2332

HF 2332 proposes new criminal penalties and expanded legal definitions related to elective abortion and feticide in Iowa. The bill includes provisions that could broaden how criminal laws apply to pregnancy and abortion care. HF 2332 has been assigned to subcommittee, with a hearing scheduled. It has not yet passed subcommittee.

As the Legislature approaches funnel week, the status of these bills will depend on whether they move out of committee before the deadline.

What happens next: Funnel Week

Next week is known as “funnel week” at the Iowa Capitol. Funnel week is a legislative deadline. Most policy bills must pass out of their assigned committee in order to remain eligible for consideration this session. If a bill does not advance out of committee by the funnel deadline, it typically cannot move forward this year.

For SSB 3115 and HSB 704, that means:

1. The full committee must vote on whether to advance the bill.
2. If approved, the bill can move to the House or Senate floor for debate and a vote.
3. If passed in one chamber, it then moves to the other chamber for consideration.
   

For HF 2316 and HF 2332, funnel week will determine whether those proposals continue forward or stall in committee.

What you can do

If you have concerns about these bills, now is the time to contact your elected officials.

You can:

• Email or call your State Representative and State Senator.
• Share how changes to telehealth or reproductive healthcare access could affect you, your family, or your community.
• Follow committee schedules and legislative calendars for updates.
  

To find your legislators and their contact information, visit: legis.iowa.gov/legislators/find

Committee decisions in the coming days will determine whether these proposals advance. Staying informed and communicating with your representatives remains one of the most direct ways Iowans can participate in the legislative process.