House File 570 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 570 BY COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY (SUCCESSOR TO HF 119) A BILL FOR An Act relating to assault including assault on a pregnant 1 person and domestic abuse assault, and providing penalties. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 1523HV (3) 90 as/rh

H.F. 570 Section 1. Section 708.2, Code 2023, is amended by adding 1 the following new subsection: 2 NEW SUBSECTION . 3A. A person who commits a violation of 3 subsection 2 or 3 against another person who the person knows 4 or reasonably should know is a pregnant person is guilty of a 5 class “D” felony. 6 Sec. 2. Section 708.2A, subsection 2, Code 2023, is amended 7 by adding the following new paragraph: 8 NEW PARAGRAPH . e. A class “D” felony, if the domestic 9 abuse assault is committed against a person who is known to be, 10 or reasonably should be known to be, pregnant, and that is a 11 violation of paragraph “b” , “c” , or “d” . 12 Sec. 3. Section 708.2A, subsection 3, Code 2023, is amended 13 by adding the following new paragraph: 14 NEW PARAGRAPH . c. A class “D” felony if the first offense 15 was classified as a class “D” felony, and the second offense 16 would otherwise be classified as a serious or aggravated 17 misdemeanor. 18 EXPLANATION 19 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 20 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 21 This bill relates to assault including assault on a pregnant 22 person and domestic abuse assault. 23 ASSAULT —— PREGNANT PERSON. The bill provides that a person 24 who commits an assault against another person who the person 25 knows or reasonably should know is a pregnant person which 26 causes bodily injury or mental illness, or who uses or displays 27 a dangerous weapon in connection with the assault, is guilty 28 of a class “D” felony. 29 DOMESTIC ABUSE ASSAULT —— PREGNANT PERSON. The bill 30 provides that a person who commits domestic abuse assault 31 commits a class “D” felony if the domestic abuse assault is 32 committed against a person who is known to be, or reasonably 33 should be known to be, pregnant, and any of the following 34 occur: the domestic abuse assault causes bodily injury or 35 -1- LSB 1523HV (3) 90 as/rh 1/ 2

H.F. 570 mental illness; the domestic abuse assault is committed with 1 the intent to inflict a serious injury upon another, or if 2 the person who commits the domestic abuse assault displays a 3 dangerous weapon in connection with the assault; or if the 4 person who commits the domestic abuse assault knowingly impedes 5 the normal breathing or circulation of the blood of another by 6 applying pressure to the throat or neck of the other person or 7 by obstructing the nose or mouth of the other person. 8 DOMESTIC ABUSE ASSAULT —— SECOND OFFENSE PENALTY. The 9 bill provides that a person who commits a second domestic 10 abuse assault commits a class “D” felony if the person’s first 11 domestic abuse assault was classified as a class “D” felony, 12 and the second domestic abuse assault would otherwise be 13 classified as a serious or aggravated misdemeanor. 14 A class “D” felony is punishable by confinement for no more 15 than five years and a fine of at least $1,025 but not more than 16 $10,245. 17 -2- LSB 1523HV (3) 90 as/rh 2/ 2