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(Des Moines, IA) -- A bill introduced in the Iowa Legislature could treat abortion as a crime if passed.
House File 2316, introduced by Representative Zach Dieken, would expand wrongful-death laws to include the death of an unborn child and defines an unborn child as beginning at fertilization.
The bill would also broaden legal definitions in Iowa’s homicide and assault codes, making those penalties apply to unborn children from the moment of fertilization.
The bill includes exceptions to protect the life of the pregnant woman when reasonable medical steps are taken, as well as exceptions in cases of miscarriage.