The U.S. House of Representatives passed Kayleigh’s Law in late August, introduced in April by Rep. Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ-08). The Senate Judiciary Committee has not yet scheduled action on the measure.
H.R. 8481, the Kayleigh’s Law Act of 2026, passed the House by voice vote on Aug. 31; no individual vote tally was recorded. Reps. Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05), Eli Crane (R-AZ-02), Paul Gosar (R-AZ-09), Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06), and David Schweikert (R-AZ-01) were original cosponsors.
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"Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a former prosecutor and as an Arizonan who has seen what happens when the system prioritizes a criminal over the victim."
Congressman Hamadeh takes the House floor to champion his bill, H.R. 8481, the Kayleigh’s Law Act of 2026. pic.twitter.com/Yq4fy8PuHH
— Office of Congressman Abe Hamadeh (@RepAbeHamadeh) August 31, 2026
The Senate companion, S. 5372, was introduced Aug. 7 by Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. No hearing or markup date has been posted.
The bill is named for Kayleigh Kozak, an Arizona mother of five who was sexually abused as a child by her soccer coach. In 2020, 13 years after the offender’s conviction, Kozak was brought back to court when her attacker sought to end his lifetime probation.
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Congressman Hamadeh promised @kayleigh_kozak that if he got to Congress, he would pass federal Kayleigh’s Law, the lifetime no-contact protection Arizona enacted in her honor.
He introduced it. He pushed it. Yesterday, he brought Kayleigh and her family to the… pic.twitter.com/xYjFyGiQt6
— Office of Congressman Abe Hamadeh (@RepAbeHamadeh) September 1, 2026
Arizona enacted its state version of Kayleigh’s Law through Senate Bill 1653 in 2022. The federal bill would require a court at sentencing to issue a lifetime no-contact order when a victim—or the government with the victim’s consent—requests one following a conviction for a qualifying federal violent felony or sex offense. The order could be suspended or terminated only under limited circumstances specified in the bill. Victims could not be charged a fee for its issuance.
Lee said in August that victims “often have to face their abusers in court over and over again.” Kozak said the harm caused by sexual assault is lifelong and its protections should be as well.
Like too many other abuse victims, @kayleigh_kozak was forced to repeatedly face the soccer coach who assaulted her as a child, just to get courts to keep him away.
Victims deserve protection, not more fear for their safety.
Hamadeh called the House vote “promise made, promise kept.”
In a post on X, Biggs wrote, “The U.S. House did its job to protect victims of certain violent crimes in passing Kayleigh’s Law this week. Now, the U.S. Senate must act before the clock runs out on us in January. We cannot fail these victims. We must send Kayleigh’s Law to the President’s desk.”
The U.S. House did its job to protect victims of certain violent crimes in passing Kayleigh’s Law this week.
Now, the U.S. Senate must act before the clock runs out on us in January.
We cannot fail these victims. We must send Kayleigh's Law to the President's desk.
In a post quoting Biggs, Lee wrote, “Proud to have introduced Kayleigh’s Law in the Senate. Victims should not suffer years of unwanted contact with their abusers. And @RepAndyBiggsAZ is right: as with a large number of important House bills, we need to stop sitting around and PASS IT to President Trump’s desk!”
Proud to have introduced Kayleigh’s Law in the Senate. Victims should not suffer years of unwanted contact with their abusers.
And @RepAndyBiggsAZ is right: as with a large number of important House bills, we need to stop sitting around and PASS IT to President Trump’s desk! https://t.co/mRum5DDMgN
Legislation that does not become law before the 119th Congress ends in January would have to be introduced again in the next Congress.
AZ Free News contacted Lee’s office seeking a timeline for Senate Judiciary Committee consideration. No response was received by the time of publication.
Republicans hold the majority on the Judiciary Committee, which is chaired by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA). The House passed the measure without recorded opposition. Its next potential steps include a committee hearing or markup on S. 5372, or Senate consideration of the House-passed bill.
Until the Senate acts, the Arizona-born proposal remains legislation and has not reached the president.
President Donald Trump signed a temporary federal funding measure Wednesday that finances government operations through Dec. 11 while Congress works on fiscal year 2027 appropriations.
The House approved the Senate-amended version of H.R. 6500 on Sept. 1 by a vote of 370-48, with 14 members absent. The supporting votes included 193 Republicans, 176 Democrats, and one independent.
Arizona’s House delegation divided 5-4 on the measure.
Republican Reps. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06), Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ-08), and Paul Gosar (R-AZ-09) joined Democratic Reps. Greg Stanton (D-AZ-04) and Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ-07) in voting for the bill. Republican Reps. David Schweikert (R-AZ-01), Eli Crane (R-AZ-02), and Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05) joined Democratic Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ-03) in opposing it.
The Senate passed the measure Aug. 8 by a vote of 90-6. One senator voted present and three did not vote. Arizona Democratic Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego both supported the bill.
The enrolled legislation generally continues programs covered by the 12 annual appropriations acts at rates derived from fiscal year 2026 funding. Those appropriations encompass defense, homeland security, veterans’ services, transportation, housing, health, education, federal land management, and other government operations.
The law directs agencies to take limited funding actions during the stopgap period and generally prevents projects that received no money or authority during fiscal year 2026 from being initiated. It also permits agencies to fund civilian compensation at rates needed to avoid furloughs after reducing or deferring eligible administrative expenses.
For Arizona, the measure maintains funding for federal personnel and operations along the international border, at military installations, in national forests and parks, and throughout the state’s federal health care and veterans’ systems.
Ciscomani said a shutdown would have disrupted military pay, required Customs and Border Protection personnel and other federal law enforcement officers to continue working without pay, and affected services for nearly 80,000 veterans in his southern Arizona district.
Today, I voted for a bipartisan, temporary Continuing Resolution (CR) to prevent another government shutdown. A government shutdown is not a political game; it has REAL consequences. It disrupts pay for our troops, leaves CBP agents and law enforcement working without pay, and…
“A government shutdown is not a political game; it has REAL consequences,” Ciscomani said. “It disrupts pay for our troops, leaves CBP agents and law enforcement working without pay, and disrupts services for the nearly 80,000 veterans I have the privilege of representing.”
The stopgap also keeps some new fiscal year 2027 spending from beginning until Congress enacts regular appropriations. Ciscomani said operating under a continuing resolution could postpone $42.7 million in proposed projects for Arizona’s Sixth Congressional District that had cleared initial appropriations hurdles.
He concluded, “I have NEVER supported a government shutdown—partial or full. Arizona families should not have to pay the price for Washington’s dysfunction. The House did the right thing today by coming together to keep the government open, keep essential services running, and continue delivering for Arizona.”
One provision with a direct Arizona connection authorizes the Interior Department to fund its assumption of the remaining responsibilities of the Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation.
The relocation office was created to administer benefits arising from the federal division of disputed Navajo and Hopi lands in northeastern Arizona. Its remaining work includes administrative appeals, fiduciary responsibilities, land management, and livestock obligations. Congress directed Interior Department to begin handling those outstanding responsibilities as part of the office’s closure, according to a Congressional Research Service report updated in February.
The law also provides additional funding authority for the Indian Health Service (IHS) at operating rates of $75.8 million for health services and $8.3 million for facilities. The money is intended to staff and operate facilities opened, expanded or renovated during fiscal years 2022, 2026 and 2027. The legislation states national account rates and leaves facility-level allocations to the agency.
The IHS maintains Phoenix, Navajo, and Tucson administrative areas with hospitals, clinics, and health centers located throughout Arizona. The Phoenix Area system provides health and community services to approximately 180,000 Native Americans in Arizona, Nevada, and Utah through service units and tribally operated facilities. The Phoenix Indian Medical Center alone provides direct services to more than 171,000 patients.
Wildfire and disaster operations also received special treatment in the stopgap.
The Interior Department and U.S. Forest Service may spend at rates needed for wildfire suppression during the approximately 10-week funding period. Arizona fire officials entered 2026 anticipating increased fire activity because of persistent dryness, fine fuels, drought-stressed vegetation, and tree mortality.
The law gives the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) similar flexibility to fund disaster response and recovery. It also extends the National Flood Insurance Program through Dec. 11.
Transportation programs that were scheduled to expire Sept. 30 will continue through Dec. 11 under a separate division of the legislation. The extension provides a proportional share of fiscal year 2026 highway and mass transit funding and extends the federal government’s authority to spend from the Highway Trust Fund.
Federal funding accounts for most of the money used in Arizona’s highway construction program. ADOT’s 2026-2030 program includes $2.77 billion for pavement and bridge preservation, $742.9 million for highway expansion, and $603.6 million for modernization.
The law also authorizes the Transportation Department to spend at the rate needed to maintain Essential Air Service. The program subsidizes commercial flights connecting Page and Show Low with Phoenix and Prescott with Denver and Los Angeles.
The Transportation Department’s May 2026 program report listed annual subsidies of approximately $4.4 million for Page, $5.9 million for Show Low, and $6.3 million for Prescott, totaling about $16.6 million.
Federal nutrition and housing programs serving Arizona residents will also continue.
The law maintains mandatory payments and activities under the Food and Nutrition Act, which covers the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Arizona reported that 451,762 people received SNAP benefits in May 2026.
The measure allows the Department of Agriculture to spend at rates needed to maintain participation in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and the existing caseload for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). Arizona administers the latter program as the Commodity Senior Food Program, providing monthly USDA food packages to qualifying residents who are at least 60 years old. The state projected an average monthly caseload of 29,931 people during fiscal year 2026 in its budget materials.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development may use prior-year balances to prevent families from losing tenant-based rental assistance because of insufficient funding during the 2026 calendar-year cycle. The City of Phoenix’s Housing Choice Voucher program alone assists more than 7,000 households.
H.R. 6500 also extends a series of veterans’ programs through Dec. 11. Those provisions cover rural mental-health services, suicide-prevention grants, assistance for family caregivers, ambulance reimbursement for qualifying rural veterans, housing support for homeless veterans, transportation to VA facilities, and adaptive sports programs for disabled veterans and service members.
The Department of Veterans Affairs estimated Arizona’s veteran population at 467,010 in fiscal year 2025. Nearly 160,000 Arizona veterans received disability compensation totaling an estimated $4.24 billion annually, while more than 53,000 participated in VA education programs.
The law also permits the Small Business Administration to adjust spending to meet demand for 7(a), 504 and Small Business Investment Company financing. The 7(a) program is the agency’s primary lending program and guarantees qualifying loans for real estate, equipment, working capital, business acquisitions, and other expenses.
H.R. 6500 keeps those operations and programs funded until Congress enacts the applicable fiscal year 2027 appropriations bill or the stopgap expires on Dec. 11.
Congressman Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06) voted Tuesday in favor of a bipartisan continuing resolution to fund the federal government through December 11, citing the potential consequences of another shutdown for military personnel, law enforcement, and Arizona veterans.
The House passed H.R. 6500, the “Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027” by a 370-48 vote. The measure was previously passed on August 8, by the Senate with a 90-6 vote before being sent to President Donald Trump, who signed it into law, September 2.
The legislation provided fiscal year 2027 funding for federal agencies generally at current levels through December 11 and extends authorities for a range of federal programs, including surface transportation and veterans programs.
Ciscomani, who serves on the House Appropriations Committee, said he supported the temporary measure to prevent another shutdown while Congress continues negotiations over full-year appropriations bills.
“Today, I voted for a bipartisan, temporary Continuing Resolution (CR) to prevent another government shutdown. A government shutdown is not a political game; it has REAL consequences,” stated Ciscomani.
He pointed to the potential impact on military personnel, Customs and Border Protection agents, law enforcement officers, and veterans.
“It disrupts pay for our troops, leaves CBP agents and law enforcement working without pay, and disrupts services for the nearly 80,000 veterans I have the privilege of representing,” he added.
The Arizona congressman also acknowledged that continuing resolutions are not a substitute for completing the annual appropriations process.
“As an appropriator, I know CRs are not ideal and can delay critical bipartisan work, including the $42.7 million in funding that has cleared the first major legislative hurdles to deliver critical investments to Arizona’s Sixth Congressional District,” said Ciscomani.
Today, I voted for a bipartisan, temporary Continuing Resolution (CR) to prevent another government shutdown. A government shutdown is not a political game; it has REAL consequences. It disrupts pay for our troops, leaves CBP agents and law enforcement working without pay, and…
Among the funding priorities he highlighted were $42.7 million in funding that he said has cleared the first major legislative hurdles and would provide investments in Arizona’s 6th Congressional District.
Ciscomani said he has opposed government shutdowns and argued that federal funding disputes should not result in disruptions for Arizona families.
“I have NEVER supported a government shutdown—partial or full,” said Ciscomani. “Arizona families should not have to pay the price for Washington’s dysfunction.”
The temporary funding measure comes after Congress faced the possibility of another funding lapse when the federal fiscal year ends September 30.
Lawmakers have sought to avoid another prolonged shutdown after the federal government experienced two major shutdowns during the previous year. One lasted a record 43 days, while a separate shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security lasted 76 days.
The new CR gives Congress additional time to negotiate and pass full-year appropriations legislation for Fiscal Year 2027.
Ciscomani said the House’s approval of the measure would allow the government to remain operational while lawmakers continue working on longer-term funding legislation.
“The House did the right thing today by coming together to keep the government open, keep essential services running, and continue delivering for Arizona,” Ciscomani said.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
The U.S. House passed legislation mandating victims of certain sexual or violent crimes have lifetime protections against their abusers.
Rep. Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ-08) sponsored the Kayleigh’s Law Act of 2026, or Kayleigh’s Law, named after Arizona native and survivor advocate Kayleigh Kozak. Reps. Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05), Eli Crane (R-AZ-02), Paul Gosar (R-AZ-09), Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06), and David Schweikert (R-AZ-01) were among the bill’s original cosponsors.
The legislation passed via unanimous voice vote on Monday.
In an address on the House floor, Hamadeh said that the bill would ensure that the criminal justice system would no longer prioritize the desires of abusers over the safety of victims.
In a press release, Hamadeh stated that Kayleigh’s Law would “eliminate the ‘legal tug-of-war’” requiring survivors to face their abusers in court.
“This bill is simple. When a predator is convicted, federal courts must issue a lifelong no-contact injunction. Not until probation ends. Not until some judge decides the offender has ‘moved on.’ For life,” said Hamadeh. “Victims should never again have to fill out another form, sit across from their abuser, or look over their shoulder because the sentence ran out and the system shrugged.”
Kozak has attested in many interviews in recent years that she was victimized by her middle school P.E. teacher who was also her soccer coach. Her abuser requested an end to probation in 2020, 13 years after his conviction, and Kozak was given three weeks’ notice.
“Two times as an adult she was hauled back to look at the man who destroyed her childhood just to keep him away. No victim should ever have to do that,” said Hamadeh.
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"Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a former prosecutor and as an Arizonan who has seen what happens when the system prioritizes a criminal over the victim."
Congressman Hamadeh takes the House floor to champion his bill, H.R. 8481, the Kayleigh’s Law Act of 2026. pic.twitter.com/Yq4fy8PuHH
— Office of Congressman Abe Hamadeh (@RepAbeHamadeh) August 31, 2026
Arizona law already requires courts to issue a lifelong no-contact injunction for sex offenders. This federal version would expand that no-contact mandate to certain violent felons.
“Contact” was defined to mean all direct or indirect communication, transmission, or physical interaction, including written, oral, electronic, digital, or physical means and communications executed through an intermediary or technological systems.
The Arizona version of this legislation was enacted in 2022, and is also named Kayleigh’s Law.
Biggs’ running mate for Arizona Governor, Sine Kerr, was the sponsor that led passage of the Arizona version of Kayleigh’s Law.
Today, the U.S. House unanimously passed Kayleigh’s Law by voice vote.
This victim-centered, public safety-focused legislation ensures that victims of violent crime have meaningful protections at the federal level while also serving as a model for states seeking to better… pic.twitter.com/XgJyXsdM8B
According to Hamadeh’s office, more than 1,000 child sex abuse survivors in Arizona benefited from the state’s lifetime no-contact protections within the first year of the law’s enactment.
“Kayleigh’s Law would give every American victim of a federal sex crime or a violent felony that same shield,” said Hamadeh. “Healing cannot begin if the abuser can show up again the day after release. Justice is not complete if the victim still lives in fear. Arizona already closed that gap; it is time the federal government did the same, so no American, no matter which state they live in, is left unprotected after a federal conviction.”
Three of Kozak’s five children were present with her for the passage of the bill.
A related bill, also titled Kayleigh’s Law Act of 2026, is making its way through the Senate under sponsorship from Utah Sen. Mike Lee. It was read twice and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee last month.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
Congressman Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06) highlighted a $1.6 million federal investment aimed at moving forward the long-planned construction of an air traffic control tower at Pinal Airpark.
Ciscomani visited the airpark last Thursday to discuss the funding and the next steps toward developing a dedicated tower at the facility, which currently operates without one.
The preliminary funding will help cover several stages of the project, including selecting a site, completing environmental reviews, developing the tower’s design, and beginning early construction-related work.
“Since 2023, I have worked in Congress to deliver an air traffic control tower to Pinal Airpark,” stated Congressman Ciscomani. “As Arizona’s only appropriator in the House or Senate, I have a unique responsibility to bring meaningful federal investments back home. This $1.6 million represents a major step toward building a tower that will enhance safety, support continued growth, and unlock new economic opportunities for Pinal County.”
The effort to bring a tower to Pinal Airpark has been a priority for Ciscomani since he entered Congress.
In 2023, he successfully secured language in the federal aviation reauthorization package intended to accelerate the process for developing an air traffic control tower at the airpark.
That provision was included in the House-passed FAA reauthorization legislation, helping lay the groundwork for the project now receiving federal funding.
The need for improved air traffic control infrastructure comes as Pinal Airpark continues to handle significant activity. According to the funding announcement, the facility accommodates more than 100,000 commercial and military flight operations annually.
Without a dedicated control tower, the airpark faces operational and safety challenges that could also affect its ability to accommodate future growth.
Pinal County Supervisor Stephen Miller credited Ciscomani with helping advance the project and pointed to its potential impact beyond aviation.
“Representative Ciscomani has led successful efforts in Congress to advance approval, design and construction of an air traffic control tower at Pinal Airpark to enhance aviation safety, strengthen military readiness, and drive job creation and economic growth throughout the region,” said Miller. “We are deeply grateful for Representative Ciscomani’s leadership and support in moving this critical project forward.”
The tower project also comes as Ciscomani seeks to bring additional federal dollars to Arizona’s Sixth Congressional District. Through this year’s federal funding bills, he is pursuing approximately $42.7 million for 20 projects throughout the district.
The Pinal Airpark funding is part of a broader effort to direct federal investment toward local infrastructure and development projects.
Ciscomani also highlighted the funding and partnership with Marana during an interview with KVOI.
Proud to advocate for bringing $42.7M back home to #AZ06 and to be one of the TOP members of Congress bringing these federal resources home to #AZ06.
Marana has been a great partner, and I am proud to work together to deliver RESULTS for our local community! 🌵 pic.twitter.com/5gB9E2b2UQ
— Congressman Juan Ciscomani (@RepCiscomani) August 20, 2026
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
