S. 5372 – Kayleigh’s Law Act of 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated August 14, 2026 at 2:22 AM UTC

The Kayleigh's Law Act of 2026 adds a new provision to federal criminal law that allows courts to issue a lifetime injunction preventing a convicted offender from contacting the victim. It applies to violent felonies and a range of federal sexual offenses, and the injunction lasts for the defendant’s life unless it is terminated under specific circumstances.

Key Provisions

Defines "covered offenses" as violent felonies and many federal sexual crimes listed in the bill.
Requires the court, at sentencing and upon a government or victim motion, to issue an order that bars the defendant from any contact with the victim.
The injunction remains in effect for the defendant’s lifetime, unless terminated or suspended by a victim’s motion (e.g., pardon, change in circumstances) or a defendant’s motion (e.g., conviction overturned).
Violating the injunction is punishable as contempt of court.
Victims cannot be charged any fee for the issuance of the injunction.
The injunction applies nationwide and is not limited by state jurisdiction.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

August 7, 2026

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

August 7, 2026

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

August 7, 2026

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

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Introduced in SenateIssued August 7, 2026

II

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 5372

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

August 7, 2026

Mr. Lee introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide for the issuance of natural lifetime injunctions for certain victims.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Kayleigh’s Law Act of 2026.

2.

Natural lifetime injunctions

(a)

In general

Chapter 238 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

3773.

Natural lifetime injunctions

(a)

Definitions

For purposes of this section:

(1)

Covered offense

The term covered offense—

(A)

means—

(i)

a crime of violence (as such term is defined in section 16(a)) that is a felony under Federal law; or

(ii)

an offense that includes as an element a sexual act or sexual conduct (as defined in section 2246) that is a felony under Federal law; and

(B)

includes an offense under—

(i)

section 1591;

(ii)

section 2241;

(iii)

section 2242;

(iv)

section 2243;

(v)

section 2244;

(vi)

section 2245;

(vii)

section 2251;

(viii)

section 2251A;

(ix)

section 2252;

(x)

section 2252A;

(xi)

section 2260;

(xii)

section 2261A;

(xiii)

section 2421;

(xiv)

section 2422;

(xv)

section 2423; or

(xvi)

section 2425.

(2)

Contact

The term contact means any direct or indirect communication, transmission, or physical interaction between two or more persons, including communication or interaction by written, oral, electronic, digital, or physical means, whether initiated personally, through an intermediary, or by automated or technological systems.

(b)

Offense

(1)

In general

In the case of any defendant convicted of a covered offense, the court shall, on motion of the Government (with the consent of a victim) or a victim, issue, at the time of sentencing, an order prohibiting contact with a victim.

(2)

Duration

Such order shall remain in effect for the life of the defendant, subject to subsection (c).

(3)

Service

The imposition of such order shall be included in and served on the defendant during any sentencing proceeding.

(4)

Violation

A violation of such order shall be punishable as a contempt of court.

(c)

Termination of injunction

(1)

In general

An order issued under subsection (b) may be terminated or suspended only—

(A)

on motion of the victim to whom such order pertains, alleging—

(i)

that the conviction was the subject of a pardon or commutation; or

(ii)

a change in circumstances; or

(B)

on motion of the defendant, alleging that the conviction was dismissed or overturned on appeal.

(2)

Hearing

The court shall order a hearing on such motion, and may take evidence regarding the allegations included therein.

(d)

No fee

No fee may be assessed or collected from a victim in connection with the issuance of an order under subsection (b).

(e)

Rule of construction

Nothing in this section may be construed to limit the application of an order under this section within the jurisdiction of any State.

.

(b)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections for such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following:

3773. Natural lifetime injunctions.

.