# 119-hr-8733: Melanie's Law

119-hr-8733, Melanie's Law, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Ryan, Patrick [D-NY-18] (D-NY); status introduced (as of 2026-09-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8733
- As of: 2026-09-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-8733
- Congress: 119
- Title: Melanie's Law
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-05-11
- Sponsor: Rep. Ryan, Patrick [D-NY-18] (D-NY)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-21

## Summary

**Would create a national grant program to help States extend protective orders to close relatives and, in some cases, third parties connected to intimate relationships.** It would set rules for which family relationships qualify and fund States to implement and enforce those orders.

## Cosponsors (2)

- Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17] (R-NY), 2026-05-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26] (D-NY), 2026-06-08T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Broader protective-order authority: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would require family and criminal courts to be able to issue and enforce protective orders in more family and intimate-relationship situations. Covered people would include relatives by blood or marriage, current or former spouses, people who share a child, and people who are o…
- Federal grants for protective orders: benefit, medium. If enacted, the Attorney General would make grants to States to help implement and enforce new protective-order rules and to support victims. The bill would authorize $200,000,000 for each year from 2026 through 2036. Up to 75% of each years money could be formula grants, up to 22% could be compet…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-hr-4393: DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act of 2025
- 119-hr-9237: Take Care of America’s Veterans Act
- 119-hr-6644: 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act
- 119-hr-1229: United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act of 2025
- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-8733 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/8733)

## Related
- [119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3151)
- [119-hr-4393: DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4393)
- [119-hr-9237: Take Care of America’s Veterans Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9237)
- [119-hr-6644: 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-6644)
- [119-hr-1229: United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1229)
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8733 (as of 2026-09-21).