DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad has signed a bill into law that will allow victims of domestic abuse and other crimes to keep their home address private through a mail-forwarding program. Branstad signed the bill Thursday. It takes effect in January.

The law will allow victims of domestic abuse and other crimes to have their mail sent to an address managed by the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office. The mail will then be forwarded to the victim’s home address. The system allows victims to keep their home address confidential from an abuser or potential abuser.

Rep. Dean Fisher, a Republican from Garwin, sponsored the bill. He says it could help between 300 and 500 people in Iowa. More than 30 other states have similar laws.