Representatives Abe Hamadeh and Juan Ciscomani are seeking to expand a state law designed to protect victims from their abusers to the federal level.
Rep. Abe Hamadeh, R‑Ariz., introduced Kayleigh’s Law this week, legislation that would allow victims of federal sex crimes and violent felonies to petition courts for lifetime no‑contact injunctions against convicted offenders.
“What makes Kayleigh’s Law the gold standard is that the lifetime injunction can be served at the time of a convicted abuser’s sentencing,” Kayleigh Kozakl, who advocated for the bill, told The Center Square. “That is huge because then a victim doesn’t have to go back and ask for protection from the person who has harmed them.”
Hamadeh said the bill would apply to both previously convicted offenders and future cases. Convicted abusers who violate the injunctions would face contempt‑of‑court charges, enforced through existing federal contempt powers that grant judges discretion.
Kayleigh’s Law originated in Arizona, and has been enacted into law since 2022, which has since allowed victims of dangerous crimes and sexual assault to seek lifetime no‑contact injunctions against their perpetrators. The law covers victims of dangerous felony offenses, violent or aggravated felonies, and dangerous crimes against children.
She added that under the law, perpetrators cannot appeal or seek removal of the injunction. (RELATED: Arizona GOP Passes Sweeping Bill Banning Vaccine Discrimination at Work and in Public)
“The trauma and impact for survivors is lifelong, and they are worthy of protection for their entire life,” Kozak said.
Kozak said the hearing received bipartisan interest and generated extensive questions from lawmakers.
On Wednesday, Kozak testified before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance, urging Congress to pass Kayleigh’s Law at the federal level.
In her testimony, Kozak—who was sexually abused at age 12—told lawmakers that “sexual predators don’t make mistakes. They make conscious choices.”
“Victims—when brave enough to speak up against their abusers—are at the mercy of the decisions made by the criminal justice system,” she said.
“I have zero sympathy for pedophiles and sex offenders,” Kozak added. “The hardships they face as a result of the disgusting choices they made should never supersede a victim’s right to indefinite, lifelong protection from them.”
Since the law took effect in Arizona, it has helped thousands of victims obtain lifetime no‑contact injunctions, she said.
“Victims have come forward and said they feel so much better knowing that they have this permanent protection in place,” Kozak said.
At the hearing, Kozak also testified that she obtained a lifetime injunction against the man convicted of abusing her—Josh Jacobson, a former Phoenix‑area elementary school teacher and soccer coach who pleaded guilty to molestation nearly two decades ago and received lifetime probation under a plea agreement.
In a statement to The Center Square, Hamadeh used his experience as a former prosecutor to shed light on how vulnerable victims can be and how often courts fail to protect them.
“That is why we must require federal courts to impose these lifetime injunctions when requested by the government or the victim during sentencing,” Hamadeh said.
“I have seen what victims go through as the predator’s adjudication process plays out and know how important it is for the victim’s healing process to begin,” he said. “That process cannot be interrupted by their predators simply because our courts fail to take crime seriously and fail to impose lifetime injunctions.”
Nineteen House members are co‑sponsoring the bill, including Arizona Reps. Andy Biggs of Gilbert, David Schweikert of Scottsdale, Juan Ciscomani of Sierra Vista, Eli Crane of Flagstaff, and Paul Gosar of Buckeye. (RELATED: Arizona Gov. Hobbs Unveils Energy Plan Pushing Renewables While Admitting State Can’t Afford To Ditch Natural Gas)
If Congress passes the federal version, Kozak said she believes more states will adopt similar laws. The federal legislation would also apply to crimes involving sex trafficking and child pornography, allowing victims to petition for lifetime injunctions against their offenders.
