Kayleigh's Law Act of 2026

Floor Speech

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Ms. LEE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8481) to amend title 18, United States Code, to provide for the issuance of natural lifetime injunctions for certain victims, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 8481 A BILL

To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide for the issuance of natural lifetime injunctions for certain victims.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Kayleigh's Law Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. NATURAL LIFETIME INJUNCTIONS.

(a) In General.--Chapter 238 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: ``Sec. 3773. Natural lifetime injunctions

``(a) In General.--In the case of any defendant convicted of a covered offense, the court shall, on motion of the Government (with the consent of a victim) or a victim, issue, at the time of sentencing, an order prohibiting contact with a victim. Such order shall remain in effect for the life of the defendant, subject to subsection (b). The imposition of such order shall be included in and served on the defendant during any sentencing proceeding. A violation of such order shall be punishable as a contempt of court.

``(b) Termination of Injunction.--

``(1) In general.--An order issued under subsection (a) may be terminated or suspended only--

``(A) on motion of the victim to whom such order pertains, alleging--

``(i) that the conviction was the subject of a pardon or commutation; or

``(ii) a change in circumstances; or

``(B) on motion of the defendant, alleging that the conviction was dismissed or overturned on appeal.

``(2) Hearing.--The court shall order a hearing on such motion, and may take evidence regarding the allegations included therein.

``(c) No Fee.--No fee may be assessed or collected from a victim in connection with the issuance of an order under subsection (a).

``(d) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:

``(1) The term `covered offense'--

``(A) means--

``(i) a crime of violence (as such term is defined in section 16(a)) that is a felony under Federal law; or

``(ii) an offense that includes as an element a sexual act or sexual conduct (as defined in section 2246) that is a felony under Federal law; and

``(B) includes an offense under--

``(i) section 1591;

``(ii) section 2241;

``(iii) section 2242;

``(iv) section 2243;

``(v) section 2244;

``(vi) section 2245;

``(vii) section 2251;

``(viii) section 2251A;

``(ix) section 2252;

``(x) section 2252A;

``(xi) section 2260;

``(xii) section 2261A;

``(xiii) section 2421;

``(xiv) section 2422;

``(xv) section 2423; or

``(xvi) section 2425.

``(2) The term `contact' means any direct or indirect communication, transmission, or physical interaction between two or more persons, including communication or interaction by written, oral, electronic, digital, or physical means, whether initiated personally, through an intermediary, or by automated or technological systems.

``(e) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be construed to limit the application of an order under this section within the jurisdiction of any State.''.

(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following: ``3773. Natural lifetime injunctions.''.

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Ms. LEE of Florida. 8481.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 8481, the Kayleigh's Law Act of 2026, is about ensuring that victims of some of the most serious crimes do not have to live with the constant fear that their offender may one day contact them again.

Even when a criminal is sentenced to lifetime probation, opportunities may still exist for an offender's supervision to be terminated, preventing offenders from being fully accountable to both their victims and society.

This was all brought into focus by one brave survivor-advocate and Arizona native, Kayleigh Kozak.

After learning that her abuser was attempting to terminate his probation, Kayleigh sought a protective order against the man who abused her as a child. However, she was shocked to learn that the court required evidence of a recent encounter between Kayleigh and this man to consider a protective order, effectively denying her request to keep herself safe and free from future contact.

Thanks in large part to Kayleigh's advocacy, the Arizona Legislature changed State law to provide for lifetime protection orders. Wisconsin soon followed. Other States, including Texas and Virginia, also provide certain forms of long-term or lifetime protective orders.

When the Judiciary Committee held our hearing on this legislation in April, we were honored to hear from Kayleigh herself as she shared her experience and her path toward advocacy. We are equally honored that she joins us today in the gallery of the House of Representatives.

This legislation applies the same principles enacted at the State level to Federal offenders and their victims. Victims should not have to return to court repeatedly to face their offenders simply to extend a protective order. They should not have to wait until their offender attempts to contact them before they can petition the court for lifetime protection.

Restraining orders or protective orders often last for only a limited period of time, retraumatizing victims who must once again go through the court system to seek ongoing protection. The possibility of future contact can undermine a survivor's sense of safety and make it harder to move forward.

This bill provides a straightforward and commonsense solution by authorizing lifetime no-contact orders for offenders convicted of serious Federal violent, sexual, trafficking, and child exploitation offenses.

Under this legislation, offenders may be permanently barred from contacting their victims unless the conviction is later invalidated or pardoned. The bill is rooted in a simple principle: Victims deserve lasting protection, and offenders who have committed these heinous acts should not have the ability to reinsert themselves into the lives of those they have harmed.

Ultimately, this bill is victim-centered and prioritizes public safety. Kayleigh's Law Act helps ensure that our criminal justice system works for victims and not against them.

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Ms. LEE of Florida.

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Ms. LEE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I am prepared to close, and I yield myself the balance of my time for the purpose of closing.

Mr. Speaker, I thank a few of the individuals who helped us get to this place with this bipartisan bill--first, specifically, Right On Crime, who worked with us to develop a bill and make sure that we were capturing important concepts.

Second, I thank the ranking member and the Democrats on the committee who worked closely with us to edit, revise, and improve the bill and added important provisions. Because of our collective work together, we took a good bill, and we made it even better.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to vote in favor of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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