DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - A state court judge has temporarily halted enforcement of a new Iowa law that would have blocked Planned Parenthood of the Heartland from receiving federal grant money for sex education courses.
Judge Joseph Seidlin signed an order Wednesday prohibiting the state from implementing the bill that Gov. Kim Reynolds signed into law on May 3 until the court can decide whether the law is constitutional.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa filed a lawsuit for Planned Parenthood on May 15 challenging the law as a violation of free speech, due process and equal protection rights.
Seidlin says Planned Parenthood is likely to succeed in its equal protection claim and that it has demonstrated significant harm through loss of funding.
The law passed on the last day of the legislative session. It was the latest effort by conservative lawmakers to end streams of government funding for the organization, which also provides abortions.
The judge says it’s likely the court would not find the new law rational.
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