Iowa Fetal Homicide Bill (SF 259)

SF 259 would amend the Iowa criminal code to define “person” as an individual living human being without regard to age of development from the moment of conception, when a zygote is formed, until natural death.

The bill provides that every person is accorded the same rights and protections guaranteed to all persons by the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Iowa.

The following acts would not constitute a crime against a person:

• Medical treatment for life-threatening conditions that results in the accidental death of a person;
• Legitimate medical treatment to preserve the life of a pregnant person;
• The creation of a person through in vitro fertilization; and
• Contraception administered before a clinically diagnosable pregnancy.

A crime against a person who has not yet been born may on be charged against the principal actor of the criminal conduct—an actor who commits an offense punishable under the criminal code or aids its commission; or causes such a punishable act to be done.

If passed, the performance of an abortion would effectively be a crime.

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Latest Action

2/13/19 – Introduced; referred to Senate Judiciary Committee.

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People