House File 397 amends the Address Confidentiality Program in Iowa to enhance protections for individuals at risk of domestic violence and other forms of abuse. Key changes include allowing eligible participants to provide the name and contact information of a shelter instead of its physical address, thereby safeguarding their location. Additionally, the bill outlines specific reasons for canceling a participant's certification, such as providing false information or if the participant has died, and allows for the removal of adult household members from the program under certain conditions.

The bill also introduces provisions for mail handling, permitting the secretary to hold a program participant's mail for up to thirty days upon request. Furthermore, it clarifies that a participant's voter registration will be canceled if they register in another state, and it modifies the absentee voting process to allow participants to register for absentee voting for the duration of their certification period rather than annually. These amendments aim to streamline processes and improve the overall effectiveness of the program in protecting vulnerable individuals.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 9E.3, 9E.5, 9E.6
Enrolled: 9E.3, 9E.5, 9E.6