DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A judge will temporarily block the most restrictive abortion law in the country from taking effect in Iowa next month under an agreement between lawyers for the state and abortion rights groups.
Attorneys for the state and Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds agreed Friday to prevent the law from taking effect on July 1 after discussions with the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa, Planned Parenthood Federation of American and the Emma Goldman Clinic.
The advocacy groups have sued the state to block the law, which bans most abortions if a fetal heartbeat can be detected.
An attorney for the state says the goal is to quickly get the case before a judge to argue the law it’s constitutional.
Judge Michael Huppert said during a court hearing Friday that he’ll issue a temporary injunction later in the day.
Reynolds signed the law May 2, two days after lawmakers approved it.
