United States 119th Congress Status: In Committee 22 R cosponsors

HR 8481 — Kayleigh’s Law Act of 2026

Last action — Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 636.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced April 23, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the House.

Prognosis

Stalled 26% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 22 sponsors

    1 primary, 21 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (22 R).

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

In plain language

The bill focuses on measures related to law enforcement and public safety.

The bill aims to implement specific protocols for law enforcement agencies. It emphasizes improving public safety and accountability.

Summary

Kayleigh’s Law Act of 2026This 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.

Bill Text

What Congress says this changes

H. Rept. 119-731

Published by the reporting committee Not generated — this is the committee's own “Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported”.

Text to be removed appears in [brackets]. Newly inserted text is italicised in the official report and cannot be marked in this plain-text rendition — read the official PDF ↗ for the authoritative formatting. 

changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (new matter is 
printed in italics and existing law in which no change is 
proposed is shown in roman):

 TITLE 18, UNITED STATES CODE

 * * * * * * *
PART II--CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

 * * * * * * *

 CHAPTER 238--SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS' RIGHTS

Sec.
3772. Sexual assault survivors' rights.
3773. Natural lifetime injunctions.

 * * * * * * *

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.

 * * * * * * *

Source: H. Rept. 119-731 · govinfo

How this bill changes current law

2 changes Share ↗

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

This bill establishes a procedure for issuing natural lifetime injunctions prohibiting contact between defendants convicted of certain offenses and their victims.

  • Chapter 238 of title 18, United States Code

    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.

    This addition creates a legal framework for imposing lifetime injunctions against defendants convicted of specific offenses, enhancing victim protection.

  • Chapter 238 of title 18, United States Code

    3773. Natural lifetime injunctions.

    This clerical amendment adds a new section number for reference in legal documents.

Action History

  1. Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 119-731.

  2. Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 119-731.

  3. Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 636.

  4. Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

  5. Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 23 - 0.

  6. Introduced in House

  7. Introduced in House

  8. Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 21 co-sponsors · 525 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (21)

Not signed on (525)

525 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 525 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety veterans
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Frequently asked questions

What does HR 8481 do?
Kayleigh’s Law Act of 2026This 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.
Who sponsors HR 8481?
HR 8481 is sponsored by Biggs, Andy (Republican), Burchett, Tim (Republican), Schweikert, David (Republican), Joyce, David P. (Republican), Downing, Troy (Republican), Babin, Brian (Republican), Taylor, David J. (Republican), King-Hinds, Kimberlyn (Republican), Palmer, Gary J. (Republican), Mace, Nancy (Republican), Stutzman, Marlin A. (Republican), Crane, Elijah (Republican), Gosar, Paul A. (Republican), Moore, Barry (Republican), Ciscomani, Juan (Republican), Meuser, Daniel (Republican), Steube, W. Gregory (Republican), Smith, Christopher H. (Republican), Ezell, Mike (Republican), Gill, Brandon (Republican), Calvert, Ken (Republican), and Hamadeh, Abraham J. (Republican).
What is the current status of HR 8481?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced April 23, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HR 8481?
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