Representative Greg Heartsill sponsored a bill to sever the parental rights of rapists, which may be on its way to ratification in Des Moines.

The bill would take away the paternity rights of those convicted of sexual assault when the court determines the sexual assault led to a pregnancy. Iowa is a state that does not have a clear criteria in place to sever these rights. Heartsill says this will help to protect victims from further harassment in cases where they decide to keep a child conceived in these circumstances.