House Passes Kayleigh’s Law to Give Victims Lifetime Protection from Their Abusers

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) applauds the U.S. House of Representatives for the bipartisan passage of the Kayleigh’s Law Act of 2026 (H.R. 8481) by voice vote. Kayleigh’s law requires federal courts to issue, at a victim’s request, a lifetime no-contact order against anyone convicted of a federal sex crime or violent felony—protection that stays in place no matter when the offender’s prison term, probation, or supervised release ends.

The bill is named for AFPI’s own Kayleigh Kozak. In 2020, Kozak was forced back into a courtroom to face the PE teacher who sexually abused her for two years when she was just 12 years old, because he was petitioning to end his lifetime probation. Kayleigh’s Law prioritizes the victim by decoupling that protection from the offender’s post-conviction conditions—and she learned that when his probation ended, so would her protection. She worked with Arizona legislators to write Kayleigh’s Law, which is now on the books in Arizona, Wisconsin, and Missouri.

“This fight is deeply personal. No one should have to face their abuser again in court, like I have had to. No victim should lose protection because their abuser’s post-conviction conditions change. I am so grateful to Congressman Hamadeh for introducing this bill, and to the House for passing it,” said Kozak.

AFPI urges the Senate to pass Kayleigh’s Law without delay and send it to President Trump’s desk. Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) has already introduced the companion bill.