Iowa lawmakers make bipartisan push for over-the-counter birth control
Bills to allow over-the-counter birth control access in Iowa have bipartisan support, but Democrats and Republicans differ on what bill they want to send to the governor's desk.
Bills to allow over-the-counter birth control access in Iowa have bipartisan support, but Democrats and Republicans differ on what bill they want to send to the governor's desk.
Bills to allow over-the-counter birth control access in Iowa have bipartisan support, but Democrats and Republicans differ on what bill they want to send to the governor's desk.
Iowa Democrats and Republicans are both calling for increased access to birth control in Iowa.
House Democrats unveiled a new bill Monday to make birth control more accessible for Iowans over the age of 18. It would make some contraceptives available through pharmacists without needing a doctor's prescription.
"Pharmacists especially in rural Iowa are an important resource and an important part of this equation," Rep. Lindsay James (D-Dubuque) said. "They are an access point for care, and could help mitigate barriers and expand access to contraception."
Iowa Senate lawmakers passed a last Wednesday on a 45-3 vote. The bill originally focused on Epipens but was amended to allow Iowans 18 and older to receive birth control from a pharmacist without a prescription.
SF 326 would allow over-the-counter access to "self-administered hormonal contraceptives" including birth control bills, hormonal vaginal rings and hormonal contraceptive patches. The bill does not include abortion-related medication.
Republican Sen. Chris Cournoyer (R-LeClaire) said the bill increases access to "three forms of birth control that have been used over several decades in a safe way to ensure that women have birth control that they need, not just for maternal health, but also for women's health in general."
"The women in the Senate, I can tell you, we're a pretty strong voice for this bill. We know how important it is," Cournoyer said. "We can talk about it as people that are experiencing what it's about and why it's important to women across the state. I think that message is resonating with our other members and I'm really hopeful that we'll get it across the finish line this year to the governor's desk."
Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-Iowa) introduced a similar over-the-counter birth control bill in 2019. The Iowa Senate also passed it that year, but it did not move forward in the Iowa House.
Reynolds has listed birth control access as a top priority again this session, along with several other changes to maternal healthcare.
Iowa House Republicans have included over-the-counter birth control in a larger bill maternal healthcare bill from the governor's office.
HF 427 would also increase funding to pregnancy crisis centers, create a state-funded family medicine obstetrical fellowship program and provides more resources for maternal healthcare in rural Iowa.
Rep. Devon Wood (R-New Market), who's running that bill in the Iowa House, says House Republicans are still discussing possible changes on the plan and the birth control piece.
"I'm still having those conversations with the rest of our House Republican caucus and seeing what our path forward is going to be," Wood said.