Bills › 90th General Assembly

HF 425Signed by Governor · June 1, 2023

Relating to the release of custody of a newborn infant under the newborn safe haven Act

Sponsored by the House Health and Human Services Committee

Topics:Health careFamilies & human services

Same legislation: HSB 136

Where it is now

  1. Done: IntroducedFebruary 7, 2023
  2. Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 7, 2023
  3. Done: House committeeFebruary 21, 2023
  4. Done: Passes the HouseMarch 9, 202396–0
  5. Done: Senate committeeMarch 30, 2023
  6. Done: Passes the SenateApril 24, 202347–2
  7. Done: To the GovernorMay 9, 2023
  8. Done: Signed into lawJune 1, 2023

Signed into law What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

AI summary Parents can now leave a newborn baby at a fire station, with hospital staff, or in a newborn safety device to safely give up custody. If a parent later wants to get their baby back, they can use DNA testing to prove they are the biological parent. These changes expand the options available under the state's newborn safe haven law.1

Read the official explanation

This bill relates to the release of custody of a newborn infant under the newborn safe haven Act. The bill provides that in addition to current provisions that allow a parent of a newborn infant to voluntarily relinquish physical custody of the newborn infant directly or indirectly at an institutional health facility or to a first responder in response to a 911 call, a parent may also relinquish physical custody of a newborn directly or indirectly at a fire station, by relinquishing physical custody of the newborn infant to medical staff of a hospital or other facility following delivery of the newborn infant in the hospital or other facility when the parent notifies the medical staff that the parent is voluntarily relinquishing physical custody of the newborn infant; or by relinquishing physical custody of the newborn infant at a hospital, fire station, or an emergency medical care provider location, through a newborn safety device. The bill also provides that with regard to the rights of parents of the newborn infant, a parent requesting that custody of the newborn infant be granted to the parent may use DNA profiling to show by clear and convincing evidence that the person is the parent of the newborn infant. The bill makes conforming changes throughout Code chapter 233 (newborn safe haven Act) consistent with the changes in the bill.

Full bill text · What changed before it passed2

Senate subcommittee

Named March 14, 2023. On March 15, 2023 it recommended passage. [].

Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part

1 written public comment to its subcommittee: February 8, 2023 (1) · on the Legislature’s site

Iowa Code it changes

Amends§233.1§233.2§233.4§233.6

How the Code works3

Lobbying

1 for · 0 against · 8 undecided · Who →

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90th General Assembly