2026 Iowa Legislative Session:
What to watch on reproductive healthcare
Find answers, explore trusted reproductive rights information, and gain clarity in understanding reproductive laws and Iowa women’s health laws.
Iowa’s 2026 legislative session began January 11, 2026. Lawmakers are introducing bills, setting priorities, and signaling which policy areas they intend to focus on over the coming months.
Reproductive healthcare has been a recurring topic in recent Iowa sessions, particularly following major changes to abortion law. This year, early signals suggest renewed attention on medication abortion, enforcement mechanisms, and broader healthcare access issues.
No new laws have taken effect yet. However, proposals and discussions this session could affect how existing laws are interpreted, enforced, or expanded, especially around medication abortion.
Medication abortion typically involves two FDA-approved medications, mifepristone and misoprostol, used early in pregnancy. It is one of the most common forms of abortion care in the U.S. and is widely used in both clinical and telehealth settings.
Some lawmakers and advocacy groups are exploring ways to restrict or regulate the mailing of abortion medication. These discussions often reference safety, enforcement, or legal authority but medical organizations maintain that medication abortion is safe and effective, including via telehealth.
Many rural counties lack nearby OB-GYNs, clinics, or hospitals that provide comprehensive reproductive care. For some Iowans, mailed medication abortion is the only realistic way to access early care without traveling long distances.
Latest News & Insights
insights on reproductive healthcare in Iowa
Watch short, informative videos that explain reproductive healthcare, patient experiences, and how Iowa laws affect access to care.
Public hearing cut short
Subcommittee on HSB 704 was cut short without notice, leaving physicians, including ACOG representation, unable to share medical testimony. Fortunately, a Representative Beth Wessel-Kroeschell yielded her time so one of the doctors in the room could still speak.
HSB 704 Physician Testimony
Dr. Francesca Turner explains why leading medical experts, including ACOG, do not support this legislation. Medication abortion reversal is not proven safe or effective, and this proposal does not reflect evidence-based care. Trust science. Trust doctors. Trust women.
Attorney Ben Lynch
Attorney Ben Lynch address how healthcare professionals in Iowa are forced to make liability calculations due to Iowa's 6 week abortion ban.
SSB 3115
This bill delays care, worsens Iowa's maternity care deserts and puts doctors and patients at risk.
Jess's story
Jess's story deserves a more respectful conversation. She's right, politics shouldn't affect our healthcare. We hope Iowa can do better.
An experience no family deserves.
Iowa wrestling coach, Jess Djukanovic, tells her story of frustration and heartbreak fighting for her light against the politicization of women's healthcare.
What is a right?
What are rights really? Former Iowa Assistant Attorney General Max Miller breaks down what rights actually mean, and how they’re being redefined in real time. In the debate over reproductive freedom, it’s easy to lose sight of what’s legally protected versus what’s being restricted. Max explains the foundation of rights in America and why access to healthcare, bodily autonomy, and medical decision-making are all on the line in Iowa today. Know your rights. Watch, learn, and stay informed.
Iowa's 6 Week Abortion Ban: One Year Later
It’s been one year since Iowa’s 6-week abortion ban went into effect, a law that drastically changed what care providers can do and what patients can access. Dr. Emily Boevers sees the impact firsthand: patients denied care, providers constrained, and confusion everywhere.
Abortion Ban 1 Year Later
It has been one year since Iowa’s 6-week abortion ban went into effect. What has changed for women, families, and communities across our state? In this video, Rita Bettis shares how the ban is impacting reproductive healthcare access, patient autonomy, and the future of Iowa.
Join us
Dr. Emily Boevers introduces ICRF and what you can expect from us: facts, updates, and medically accurate info on reproductive rights in Iowa. Follow for clear, nonpartisan updates you can trust.
I can’t tell my daughter to come back to Iowa
Lisa-Marie raised her family in Iowa but with limited access to reproductive and maternal healthcare, she no longer feels confident encouraging her daughter to do the same. This is the real impact of healthcare restrictions.
Former Iowa Attorney General: “The Government Shouldn’t Force Anyone to Become a Parent”
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