Ciscomani Applauds House Passage of Kayleigh’s Law to Further Protect Victims of Violent Crime

August 31, 2026 Press Release 'I am proud that the House came together in a bipartisan manner to advance this commonsense legislation and ensure victims of dangerous crimes can obtain lifetime protection from their abusers.' Washington, D.C. - The House of Representatives today passed H.R. 8481 , Kayleigh’s Law, bipartisan legislation that Rep. Juan Ciscomani originally co-sponsored to strengthen protections for survivors of violent crimes and federal sex offenses. The legislation would require courts to issue permanent no-contact injunctions against convicted offenders, providing survivors with lifelong protection and eliminating the need to return to court to repeatedly renew protective orders. "The House’s passage of Kayleigh’s Law represents a major step forward for victims of violent crime and will provide survivors with the lasting protections they deserve," said Rep. Juan Ciscomani. "I am proud that the House came together in a bipartisan manner to advance this commonsense legislation and ensure victims of dangerous crimes can obtain lifetime protection from their abusers. Survivors should never have to live with uncertainty about whether their abuser can contact them again. Kayleigh’s Law would work to close critical gaps in federal law and has been a proven resource for Arizonans. I look forward to this critical legislation gaining increased momentum at the federal level." As Co-Chair of the bipartisan Crime Survivors and Justice Caucus, Ciscomani has been a staunch advocate for victims of crime and policies that strengthen victim services and promote community safety. The caucus works in a bipartisan manner to elevate the needs of crime victims and advance bipartisan solutions to support survivors and their communities. "The harm caused by sexual assault is not temporary. It is lifelong," stated Kaleigh Kozak, an Arizona native and survivor of childhood sexual abuse. "The protections for those who have been sexually violated should be lifelong too. No survivor should have to repeatedly return to court just to request the continuation of a protective order from the person who was convicted of sexually violating them. Kayleigh’s Law ensures no victim ever has to endure the nightmare of continuously justifying their need for safety. When I was a little girl, I could not protect myself from the teacher who sexually abused me at school - but I can fight now to protect myself, other innocent children, and every victim." BACKGROUND Kayleigh’s Law is named after Kayleigh Kozak, a Buckeye, Arizona, native and survivor of childhood sexual abuse. After her abuser’s probation ended, Kayleigh was forced to return to court to seek an extension of her protective order, requiring her to face once again the person who had abused her. Arizona enacted Kayleigh’s Law in 2022, providing survivors of certain violent and sexual crimes with lifelong protection from their convicted abusers. The legislation would: Provide lifetime protection from direct or indirect contact with the convicted offender. Keep protections in place after incarceration, probation, or supervised release ends. Eliminate costs for victims seeking the injunction at sentencing. Image ###