This bill addresses elective abortion and feticide in Iowa, establishing new definitions and prohibitions while increasing penalties for violations. It defines "elective abortion" and outlines exceptions, such as in cases of medical emergencies or miscarriages. The bill creates a new section, 146F.2, which prohibits individuals from knowingly administering any means to cause an elective abortion and penalizes those who aid or abet such actions. Licensed individuals who violate this provision may face disciplinary actions. Additionally, the bill mandates the Board of Medicine to adopt rules for enforcement.

Significantly, the bill amends existing laws regarding feticide by removing the requirement for the knowledge and consent of the pregnant person after the second trimester, thus broadening the scope of the offense. It reclassifies feticide from a class C felony to a class A felony, while attempted feticide is elevated from a class D to a class B felony. The bill also introduces various penalties for causing the death or serious injury of an unborn child, including aggravated misdemeanors and serious misdemeanors, and clarifies that a pregnant woman cannot be prosecuted for actions resulting in the death or injury of her unborn child. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 147.2, 707.8