Kayleigh’s Law Act of 2026
This bill requires federal courts to issue lifetime no-contact orders against individuals convicted of federal violent crimes or felony sexual offenses if the victim requests it. These orders permanently ban the offender from any direct, indirect, digital, or physical communication with the victim, at no cost to the victim. Violating the order is punishable as contempt of court, and the restriction can only be removed if the conviction is overturned on appeal or if the victim asks the court to lift it.
What this bill touches.
Who it helps · who it burdens.
Who it helps
- Victims of covered federal violent crimes and sex offensesSec. 2(a) entitles victims of federal violent crimes, sex offenses, and trafficking to mandatory lifetime no-contact orders against convicted defendants upon request, exempts them from court fees for these orders, and gives them the exclusive authority (barring an overturned conviction) to request termination or suspension based on changed circumstances or pardons.
Who it burdens
- Defendants convicted of covered federal offensesSec. 2(a) subjects individuals convicted of federal violent crimes, sex offenses, or trafficking to lifelong prohibitions on direct or indirect contact with victims, enforceable under penalty of contempt of court, with limited grounds to petition for termination only if the conviction is dismissed or overturned on appeal.
- Federal district courtsSec. 2(a) requires federal courts to issue lifetime no-contact orders at sentencing upon request of the victim or prosecutor, hold hearings on motions to suspend or terminate such orders, and process these orders without assessing fees on victims.
The provisions, in plain language.
Requires federal courts, upon request by a victim or prosecutors with the victim's consent, to issue a lifetime order at sentencing prohibiting a convicted defendant from contacting the victim following a federal felony conviction for a violent crime, sex offense, or human trafficking.
Permits courts to hold a hearing to end or suspend a lifetime no-contact order only if requested by the victim due to changed circumstances, a pardon, or a reduced sentence, or if requested by the defendant because the conviction was dismissed or overturned on appeal.
Prohibits courts from assessing or collecting any fees from victims to issue a lifetime no-contact order.
Clarifies that federal lifetime no-contact orders remain valid and enforceable within state jurisdictions.