A bill that passed through the Iowa Senate recently will increase the distance that protesters must stay away from funerals and memorial services from 500 feet to 1000 feet.

District 14 State Senator Amy Sinclair says this is to better protect mourners from organizations, such as Westboro Baptist Church. She says while these protesters are interfering with the rights and grieving process of mourners, the right to free speech must also be protected.
Sinclair says by changing the separation distance, it still provides a balance by allowing citizens to protest, while also giving a little more security to mourners.