Melanie's Law, named after Melanie Chianese, who tragically lost her life at the hands of her mother's ex-boyfriend, has unanimously passed in the state Senate's Children and Families Committee.

The proposed law aims to address a critical gap in the state's order of protection laws.

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Under Melanie's Law, courts would be empowered to issue orders of protection for immediate family members or household victims of domestic violence, regardless of their age.

Local leaders have expressed hope that this legislation will effectively close a significant loophole in existing laws related to orders of protection.

For more on the legislation, click here and here.