Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican, said pro-life legislation passed in the state during her time in office could help close Planned Parenthood facilities in Iowa for good.
Local ABC affiliate KCRG reported that Reynolds mentioned the legislation during a speech at The Family Leadership Summit, a July 11 pro-life event where she celebrated her terms as governor. Reynolds announced in April that she will not be seeking reelection next year because she wants to spend more time with her family.
According to KCRG, she said the state’s heartbeat law was particularly instrumental in closing several Planned Parenthood facilities. Signed in 2023, the law protects unborn life after a heartbeat can be detected, which can be as early as six weeks of pregnancy. Reynolds said that there is “no effort she is prouder of,” KCRG reported, adding that abortions in Iowa have fallen more than 60% since the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.
She credited the heartbeat law with closing four of the state’s six Planned Parenthood locations and expressed hope that President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” which cut Medicaid funding for abortion providers for one year, will close the remaining facilities. CatholicVote reported last week that the Medicaid funding provision is currently frozen thanks to a temporary restraining order issued July 7.
Reynolds praised other pro-life legislation as well, including a law that gives state employees paid parental leave, which went into effect July 1. Both political parties supported its passage in the Iowa Legislature. The law gives mothers four weeks of paid leave and fathers one week.
She also touched on legislation passed in response to the transgender movement, applauding a law she signed in 2022 that protects women’s sports from male athletes and another that took “gender identity” off the list of protected classes in the Iowa Civil Rights Act.
Reynolds said she hopes whoever succeeds her next year will continue supporting life. She does not plan to endorse a candidate.
“I hope the next governor of Iowa will build on this grace-built partnership because no matter who’s holding office at the Capitol, we have a duty to safeguard and steward the beautiful gift that we’ve been given,” Reynolds said, according to KCRG. “A state where children are valued and the rights of parents are respected. Where taxes and the cost of living are low but character and value run high.”
