To the People of House District 95

On Wednesday last week the Governor used the power vested in her through Article IV, Section 11, and Article III, Section 2 of the Constitution of Iowa to convene the General Assembly for a Special Legislative Session to enact pro-life legislation. This comes in response to the Iowa Supreme Court's decision in declining to dissolve the injunction on the heartbeat law that was passed by the legislature and signed into law by the Governor in 2018.

How We Got Here

After Roe v. Wade was overturned, the Governor asked the courts to reexamine the 2018 heartbeat law due to the legal landscape changing with regard to this issue. As I mentioned, that bill was passed by the legislature, and signed into law by the Governor in 2018, yet the court did not allow the law to go into effect. After reviewing the case, a few weeks ago the Iowa Supreme Court reached a 3-3 split decision, and let that District Court ruling stay — continuing the block on the heartbeat law from going into effect.

In response to this decision, the Governor has called a special session for Tuesday next week to consider new pro-life legislation, and save as many babies as possible.

Where We Go

First, I wholeheartedly believe there is not a fundamental right to an abortion in our state's constitution — I took an oath to defend the document, I’ve read it many times, and it is nowhere to be found. Second, this decision, as well as the 2018 decision, once again blocks the will of the people and their elected representatives ability to protect life. Third, even after that 2018 bill was passed, Republicans have significantly grown their majorities after taking this issue to the people.

I feel strongly that the 2018 heartbeat bill is a good piece of legislation that would save many innocent unborn lives.

I ran as a pro-life candidate, was elected as a pro-life candidate, and will vote as a pro-life representative — just as I promised on the campaign trail.

It is widely believed that life ends when a heart stops beating, and I believe that at a minimum that same standard should apply as to when we legally protect the life of the unborn. That being said, when the first heartbeat of that unborn baby can be detected, I believe that life should be protected, and will vote to do so.

That’s what the heartbeat bill does — and it's the same bill with the same exceptions as last time that we will consider when we get back to Des Moines this week.

Share Your Thoughts

As always, you can shoot me an email at taylor.collins@legis.iowa.gov to share your thoughts about this issue or any others you may have.