WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HR 8733

Melanie's Law

119th Congress Introduced by Tim Kennedy and 2 co-sponsors

Creates a federal grant program to fund protective orders for family members related to someone in an intimate relationship, expanding protections.

Introduced in House
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 8733

Summary of HR 8733 (119th Congress)

Purpose and intent

  • HR 8733 seeks to amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to establish a federal grant program.
  • The primary aim is to support protective orders that protect individuals who are related by blood or marriage to individuals in intimate relationships (i.e., family members of someone in an intimate partner relationship).
  • The bill is designed to enhance protection for victims and family members who may be at risk of harm due to domestic or dating violence dynamics involving a related individual.

Key provisions and changes

  • Establishment of a new grant program under the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968.
    • The program would provide funding to support protective orders in cases where the protected party is a family member (related by blood or marriage) of an individual who is in an intimate relationship with another person.
  • Details of grant administration (to be specified in the implementing rules, typically including):
    • Eligible applicants (likely state, local, or tribal agencies or organizations involved in protective order enforcement and victim services).
    • allowable uses of funds (such as outreach, legal assistance, training for shelter and court staff, enforcement coordination, and other protective-order-related supports).
    • reporting and accountability requirements to ensure funds are used to improve protective-order processes and safety outcomes.
  • Relationship to existing protective-order frameworks:
    • The bill expands or refines the scope of protective orders to explicitly include protections for individuals who are related to individuals in intimate relationships, broadening the protective net beyond the direct intimate-partner victim.
  • Any privacy, data, or reporting provisions:
    • While specifics are not provided in the brief, grant programs typically include compliance with privacy, safety, and data-sharing standards to protect victims and participants.

Who or what would be affected

  • Potential beneficiaries:
    • Family members (related by blood or marriage) of individuals who are in intimate relationships and who may be at risk from domestic violence or related threats.
    • Victims, family members, and related household members who seek protective orders.
  • Government and service providers:
    • State, local, and tribal agencies responsible for protective orders and victim services may apply for and administer grant funds.
    • Courts, law enforcement, prosecutors, domestic violence shelters, and victim advocacy organizations could be involved in program activities funded by the grants.
  • Partnerships and coordination:
    • Entities involved in protective-order processes (issuance, enforcement, and compliance) would likely coordinate to implement enhanced protections for eligible family members.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Status: Introduced in the House and referred to the House Judiciary Committee (as of 2026-05-11).
  • Sponsor: Co-sponsor Pat Ryan.
  • Legislative process next steps (typical trajectory):
    • The Judiciary Committee would review, possibly hold hearings, and mark up the bill.
    • If approved, the bill would proceed to the full House floor for consideration, and, if passed, move to the Senate for its own steps.
  • Implementation timeline:
    • Specific deadlines, funding authorization periods, and effective dates would be determined during committee consideration and any subsequent floor or conference actions, and would depend on final enacted language.

Notes and considerations

  • The bill focuses on expanding protective-order protections to a broader group—family members linked to individuals in intimate relationships—potentially increasing safety for more people at risk.
  • Details such as funding levels, grant administration criteria, match requirements (if any), and enforcement mechanisms would be clarified in the bill text and accompanying committee reports.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to highlight particular statutory authorities, anticipated budget implications, or alignment with existing federal domestic violence grant programs.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.