Political protesters who intentionally block traffic on Iowa highways would face stiff criminal penalties under a bill that cleared an Iowa Senate subcommittee Tuesday.

Senate Study Bill 1135 was approved on a 2-1 vote, advancing to the Senate State Government Committee.

The measure was drafted in response in response to an incident in November when more than 100 protesters blocked Interstate Highway 80 in Iowa City, said Sen. Jake Chapman, R-Adel, who chaired the subcommittee. The activists shut down eastbound traffic for about 30 minutes, protesting Donald Trump's election before they were either removed by law enforcement officers or left on their own.

Read the full article on the Des Moines Register website.