HR8481-119

What This Bill Does

Kayleigh's Law Act of 2026 adds a new section 3773 to title 18 for natural lifetime injunctions. When a defendant is convicted of a covered offense, a federal court must include a lifetime order prohibiting contact with a victim if the Government or a victim moves for the order. The order remains in effect for the life of the defendant unless it is terminated or suspended under the bill's limited procedures, and violations are punishable as contempt of court.

The bill allows termination or suspension only when the victim alleges the conviction was pardoned or commuted, or when the defendant alleges the conviction was dismissed or overturned on appeal. The court must hold a hearing and may take evidence. Victims cannot be charged a fee for issuance of the order. Covered offenses include felony crimes of violence and felony offenses involving sexual acts or sexual conduct, including listed sex trafficking, sexual abuse, child exploitation, and transportation offenses. Contact includes direct or indirect written, oral, electronic, digital, automated, technological, or physical communications or interactions.

Who Benefits and How

Federal crime victims benefit because they can receive a lifetime no-contact order as part of sentencing without paying a fee. Victims of felony violence, sexual abuse, sex trafficking, and child exploitation offenses gain reduced risk of unwanted communication or physical interaction from the defendant. Department of Justice prosecutors gain a clear statutory tool to request lifetime no-contact relief at sentencing. State courts and state victim-protection systems benefit because the federal order does not limit state-law protections.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Defendants convicted of covered violent or sexual felonies are prohibited from contacting victims for life unless a narrow termination or suspension condition is met. Federal district courts must include the injunction in sentencing when properly requested, handle later termination or suspension motions, hold hearings, and enforce violations through contempt. Department of Justice prosecutors and court clerks must handle motion practice and sentencing administration tied to the new orders.

Key Provisions

• Requires federal courts to impose a lifetime no-contact injunction for a covered defendant when the Government or a victim moves for the order.
• Makes violation of the no-contact order punishable as contempt of court.
• Limits termination or suspension to motions tied to pardon, commutation, dismissal, or appellate reversal of the conviction.
• Prohibits charging victims any fee for issuance of the order.
• Defines covered offenses to include felony crimes of violence and listed felony sexual exploitation, abuse, trafficking, and transportation offenses.
• Defines contact to include direct or indirect communication or interaction through written, oral, electronic, digital, automated, technological, or physical means.