Iowa has become the state with the strictest abortion laws in the country.

Governor Kim Reynolds signed the controversial bill, commonly called the ‘fetal heartbeat bill’ into law on Friday. Senate File 359 bans nearly all abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, which is typically six-weeks during pregnancy. Governor Reynolds tells Raccoon Valley Radio she has always been a pro-life supporter.

“I’ve made it very clear that I’m pro-life and we should never stop fighting for the unborn, that’s a position that I’ve been proud to be. A heartbeat is a heartbeat. When a heartbeat stops beating, we pronounce the person dead and so a heartbeat signifies life.”

District 24 State Senator Jerry Behn says the exceptions to the law include victims of rape or incest and threatening the life of the mother. Behn believes it’s a positive thing for Iowa to have the strictest abortion laws in the county.

“I think that’s a proud statement for Iowa and the people of Iowa that we value life here. If that’s something that we’re known for I think that’s a mantel that we should wear proudly.”

At the federal level, US Representative Steve King is working on a similar bill.

“I introduced in the House of Representatives. We’re at 170 co-sponsors now. We’ve come further and faster than any bill of significant pro-life consequences since Roe v. Wade in ‘73. I want that to come to the floor for a vote and I want to pass out of the Senate. I want the President to sign it. And I want it to come before the United States Supreme Court after the next  appointment to the Court, when we have a favorable Court, and that was the timing and the strategy put together from the beginning.”

King says he pushed Iowa lawmakers to make this same bill pass through the state legislature as well. Behn expects the new law to be challenged in the court system.