While we were sleeping overnight, the 2018 Iowa Legislature passed what is being called the nation’s toughest anti-abortion law.

Republicans in both chambers passed the bill, calling for a ban on abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected, or around the sixth week of a pregrnancy.

Republican Senator Rick Bertrand (BER-trand) of Sioux City celebrated as Republicans in the Iowa Senate were poised to pass the bill.

Representative Beth Wessel-Kroeschell (WEHS-ull KROH-shell), a Democrat from Ames, says if the bill becomes law, women with the resources will travel to another state, like neighboring Illinois, to get an abortion.

The bill would allow abortions AFTER the sixth week of pregnancy in limited circumstances, such as a medical emergency, a fetal abnormality or if the pregnancy was the result of rape or incest.