One of the most contentious issues in American politics has seen the spotlight shining directly on it this week. A leaked draft of the U.S. Supreme Court's opinion in an abortion case in Mississippi shows that a majority of the high court is ready to strike down Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, according to the Des Moines Register. If the court does indeed overturn Roe, what would that mean for the state of Iowa?

The Register reports that the Supreme Court confirmed on Tuesday that the leaked information was authentic but that the decision was not final. But what happens in Iowa if and when Roe v. Wade is overturned? The short answer is nothing, at least not right away. The Register reports that, unlike more than a dozen other states, Iowa doesn't have a "trigger" law that would ban legal abortion the second that Roe v. Wade is overturned. All of the state laws governing abortion in Iowa would remain in effect. What exactly are the abortion laws in the state of Iowa?


The state of Iowa currently bans most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, according to the Register. The Republican-controlled state legislature has passed stricter restrictions but many of those have been struck down by the courts or currently face legal challenges. While the Iowa Legislature is still in session, it is unlikely that Republicans will try to pass any further abortion-related laws until the fate of Roe v. Wade is known.

If Roe v. Wade is overturned, the Register reports that Iowa could end up seeing people coming to the state to receive abortions. Without Roe, abortions would become illegal in states like North and South Dakota, but remain legal in Iowa, Nebraska, and Minnesota.

LOOK: Here are the 25 best places to live in Iowa

Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in Iowa using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather. Cities, suburbs, and towns were included. Listings and images are from realtor.com.

On the list, there's a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums. Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.

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