Two bills introduced by Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird have advanced out of a subcommittee in the Iowa House of Representatives. The measures are known as Katie’s Law and the Victims’ Protections bill.
Katie’s Law would require law enforcement to collect DNA samples at the time of arrest for felony and aggravated misdemeanor charges. The intent is to help police solve violent crimes by using DNA evidence, similar to how authorities were able to apprehend the killer of Katie Sepich.
The Victims’ Protections bill aims to prioritize crime victims within the state, offering them additional safeguards during criminal investigations and proceedings.
Attorney General Bird stated, “No criminal should ever get away with murder, rape, or any other violent crime. We need to give law enforcement the tools they need to investigate and bring violent criminals to justice. That’s why we want Katie’s Law in Iowa — to collect DNA at arrests for felonies and aggravated misdemeanors, so law enforcement can catch violent criminals like Katie Sepich’s killer. We also want Iowa to be a state where crime victims are prioritized, which is exactly what the Victims’ Protection bill will do. Thank you to the subcommittee members who voted to advance these critical bills.”
The next step for both bills is consideration by a full committee in the House.
