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H.R. 8481 · House bill · 119th Congress
This bill establishes a federal statutory framework to require federal courts to issue an order prohibiting contact with a victim (i.e., a no-contact order) in the case of a defendant who is convicted of certain violent crimes or sex crimes.
Specifically, in the case of a defendant convicted of a felony offense that is a crime of violence or that involves a sexual act or sexual conduct, on a motion by the victim or federal government, the court must issue a no-contact order.
Under the framework, the no-contact order must be imposed at sentencing and be in effect for the lifetime of the defendant unless it is terminated or suspended in accordance with specified procedures. Additionally, no fee may be assessed or collected from a victim in connection with the issuance of a no-contact order.
This Act may be cited as the “Kayleigh’s Law Act of 2026”.
(a) In general.— Chapter 238 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
“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: