At the heart of the legislation is a straightforward goal: victims who have already endured violent or sexually abusive crimes should not be forced to repeatedly confront their perpetrators simply because an offender’s sentence, probation, or supervised release eventually ends.
Under H.R. 8481, federal courts would be required to issue permanent no-contact orders at sentencing when requested by a qualifying victim or by prosecutors acting with the victim’s consent.
The orders would apply to defendants convicted of violent felonies or felony offenses involving sexual acts or sexual conduct under federal law.
The restrictions would cover virtually every form of communication. An offender could be barred for life from contacting a victim directly or indirectly through written, verbal, electronic, digital, or physical means.
Supporters argue that provision addresses a significant weakness in existing protections. A criminal sentence may eventually expire, but the emotional and psychological consequences of a violent or sexual crime can remain with a victim for decades.
Hamadeh has characterized the legislation as “a common-sense type of bill” that puts the interests and safety of victims ahead of convicted criminals.
The measure carries Kozak’s name because of her own experience with sexual abuse as a child.
According to Arizona reporting, Kozak was 12 years old when former teacher and soccer coach Joshua Jacobsen sexually abused her.
Jacobsen later pleaded guilty to sexual abuse and luring a minor for sexual exploitation. He received jail time and lifetime probation.
But nearly 20 years after the abuse, Kozak was forced to return to court when Jacobsen sought to have his probation terminated.
For Kozak, the legal battle demonstrated how victims can remain tied to their offenders long after a conviction.
She told the court, “I am living proof that he is capable of sexually harming children.”
A Maricopa County judge rejected Jacobsen’s request in June after considering probation violations that included unauthorized contact with children.
The case became an important example for Hamadeh and other supporters of the legislation.
Rather than requiring survivors to repeatedly appear in court to preserve a basic barrier between themselves and convicted offenders, Kayleigh’s Law would establish that protection permanently when the statutory requirements are met.
“Justice is not complete if the victim still lives in fear,” Hamadeh said after the House approved the legislation.
Importantly, the proposed lifetime restriction would apply only after a defendant has been convicted. It would not impose permanent restrictions on people who are merely accused of a qualifying offense.
The House Judiciary Committee had already given the legislation strong bipartisan support. In June, the committee approved the amended bill by a 23-0 vote.
That support carried over to the House floor Monday, where H.R. 8481 passed without recorded opposition.
Arizona Republican Rep. Andy Biggs also played a role in advancing the legislation through the Judiciary Committee. Hamadeh publicly credited Biggs following the House vote.
Supporters point to existing state laws as evidence that permanent protections can work in practice.
Hamadeh’s office says more than 1,000 Arizona survivors received lifetime protection during the first year of the state’s law. Wisconsin has also adopted a version of the measure.
For Kozak, the issue goes beyond one courtroom or one criminal case.
“The harm caused by sexual assault is not temporary,” Kozak said while supporting the federal legislation.
The legislation also carries a personal significance for Hamadeh. During his congressional campaign, he promised Kozak outside an In-N-Out Burger that he would pursue the proposal.
On Monday, Kozak and her children were at the Capitol as lawmakers approved the bill.
Hamadeh described the moment with a simple message: “promise made, promise kept.”
The legislation now moves to the Senate, where Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee has introduced a companion bill.
Lee unveiled his Senate version on August 12, arguing that victims should not be forced into repeated courtroom battles or unwanted interactions with convicted abusers after surviving serious trauma.
“They fear for their safety, and they deserve better protection,” Lee said while announcing his legislation.
The Senate proposal similarly calls for permanent no-contact orders, at a victim’s request, following qualifying convictions involving violence or sexual offenses.
The bill has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, meaning committee consideration represents the next major step toward passage.
Hamadeh is urging senators to move quickly and give the legislation the same bipartisan treatment it received in the House.
The political divisions that dominate Washington were largely absent from the House vote. Instead, lawmakers from both parties agreed on a basic principle: victims of serious crimes deserve meaningful protection from convicted offenders.
Hamadeh has expressed hope that Congress can complete the process and send Kayleigh’s Law to President Donald Trump for his signature before November.
The legislation’s supporters view it as a practical reform rather than a sweeping overhaul of federal criminal law. Its purpose is narrowly focused on establishing a lasting legal boundary between qualifying offenders and their victims.
For survivors, that distinction could be significant.
A prison sentence eventually ends. Probation can expire. Supervised release can conclude. But the fear created by a violent or sexual crime does not necessarily disappear when those legal obligations do.
Kayleigh’s Law seeks to ensure that the protection of victims does not disappear with them.
With the House unanimously behind the measure, attention now turns to the Senate. The next question is whether senators will advance the bill and make permanent victim protection a federal standard across the country.
