Melanie's Law

This bill creates a federal grant program, run by the Attorney General, for states whose courts can issue protective orders covering family members, spouses, former spouses, people who share a child, and intimate partners. To qualify, a state's courts must also be able to issue protective orders for a relative of either person in an intimate relationship, of any age. Grant money can pay for training, serving protective orders, systems that track orders and violations, specialized enforcement units, and services for victims such as legal help, shelter, housing, and counseling. The bill authorizes $200 million per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2036, with most funds split among states by population and the rest awarded competitively.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Patrick Ryan Democrat sponsor
• 2 cosponsors