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(Des Moines, IA) -- Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signs 26 bills into law.
One of the new laws, formerly Senate File 2296, allows peace officers to search through garbage outside of a person's residence without a warrant.
The bill found favor and dissent from both major parties during House debate on March 22nd. 4 Democrats voted in favor of the Republican-led bill, and 5 Republicans voted against it.
House Democrat Mary Lynn Wolfe voted against SF 2296, and said the bill violates the Iowa Constitution.
"Iowa citizens do have a protected liberty interest in their trash," said Representative Wolfe.
A House Republican in favor of the new law said the Legislature should move forward with the measure.
"The searching of abandoned garbage makes our communities safer because numerous crimes are solved each year using this law enforcement tool," says Representative Steven Holt. "If the courts choose to overturn this, then we can certainly always come back and take the next step to pursue a constitutional amendment."
The measure passed through the House 58-36 after passing through the Senate with ease on a vote of 49-0.
Among the other laws are new infant screenings required to detect disorders and new education standards to help non-English speakers in school.
The press release from the Office of the Governor of Iowa listing the 26 bills signed into law can be found here.