Equal Protection for the Unborn: Iowa’s HF453 Defends Life at All Stages

This week, Representative Zack Dieken, along with other legislators, introduced House File 453 (HF453), a groundbreaking bill aimed at securing equal protection for the unborn under Iowa law. This legislation recognizes the inherent value of every human life, from fertilization to natural death, and seeks to extend full legal protections to unborn children—ensuring they are treated as persons under the law.

What HF453 Does

HF453 addresses multiple areas of law to solidify the rights of the unborn, ensuring that they receive the same legal protections as born individuals. The bill establishes that:

• Unborn children are recognized as persons under homicide and assault laws – ensuring that any crime committed against an unborn child is prosecuted just as if the victim were already born.
• Wrongful death protections are extended to the unborn – meaning that families can seek legal justice when an unborn child is wrongfully killed.
• Women are protected from coercion – making it illegal for anyone to force or pressure a woman into ending her pregnancy.
• Equal due process protections – ensuring that all laws governing justice, including justifications, defenses, and immunities, apply equally to crimes involving unborn children.

By enacting this bill, Iowa would be taking a bold stand for justice, affirming that every human being—no matter how small—deserves equal protection under the law.

Why This Bill Matters

The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees that no state shall "deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." HF453 upholds this principle by legally recognizing unborn children as persons and ensuring that crimes committed against them are treated with the same severity as those against born individuals.

This bill is a direct challenge to the culture of abortion, which has long dehumanized the unborn. It stands as a beacon of justice, asserting that every child, from the moment of fertilization, is a unique human life worthy of full legal protection.

Call to Action: Contact Your Legislators!

This is a critical moment in the fight for life in Iowa. HF453 is a powerful step toward ensuring that every child in our state is given the dignity and protection they deserve. But we need your help to ensure it passes!

📢 Contact your Iowa legislators today and urge them to support HF453! Let them know that Iowans stand for life and expect their elected officials to defend the most vulnerable among us.

🔗 Find your representative and send them a message here: Iowa Legislature Contact Page

Together, we can make Iowa a state that truly protects and values life at all stages. Stand with us in supporting HF453!