Today was an historic step forward in the effort to protect additional victims from violence. HB 8 to extend protective orders to people in dating relationships cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee today. The bill has made it through the House in the past, but this is the first time the bill has passed a Senate committee. HB 8 will help protect teens who experience violence in dating relationships. It will also help protect children of victims who experience dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

This year, extending protective orders to additional groups of victims has seen bi-partisan support from House and Senate leadership. We thank the bill’s primary co-sponsors Representative John Tilley and Representative Joni Jenkins for bringing this bill forward. We also thank Senator Whitney Westerfield for working with Representative Tilley to craft a bi-partisan compromise on the bill and for hearing it today. We look forward to the bill to be considered on the Senate floor and becoming a reality in the 2015 session.