Iowa Bill Prohibiting the Use of Aborted Fetal Remains (HF 144)

The bill prohibits a person from:

• experimenting upon a fetus intended to be aborted unless the experimentation is therapeutic to the fetus;
• performing or offering to perform an abortion if the justification or reason for the abortion is that the bodily remains may be used for animal or human research, experimentation, or transplantation; or
• knowingly selling, transferring, distributing, giving away, accepting, using, or attempting to use a fetus or the bodily remains resulting from an abortion.

Fetal Research

The bill prohibits a person from using a fetus or the bodily remains resulting from an abortion in animal or human research, experimentation, or study, or for transplantation, except:

• for diagnostic or remedial tests, procedures, or observations which have the purpose of determining the life or health of the fetus, or preserving the life or health of the fetus or pregnant woman; or
• for pathological study.

A person who violates this provision would be guilty of a class “C” felony for each violation. A class “C”  felony is punishable by confinement for up to 10 years and a fine of at least $1,000 but not more than $10,000.

Related Legislation

Similar to SF 52.

Similar to HF 2329, HF 2297 and SF 2140, all of which failed to pass in 2016.