Public Policy & Law

Current Legislation Passed or Pending Approval

Governor David Ige of Hawaii signed HB 2425 into law on September 15, 2020. The bill states, “domestic abuse protective orders to include emotional abuse between family or household members.” Hawaii’s coercive control bill was inspired by the groundbreaking legislation passed in Scotland (April 1, 2019), that criminalizes psychological domestic abuse and coercive and controlling behavior.

Sept 29, 2020 California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill which amended Section 6320 of the Family Code, that conduct used to establish ‘coercive control’ constitutes abuse under CA’s Domestic Violence Prevention Act. This legislation has unambiguously recognized that such non-physical actions “destroy the mental or emotional calm” of victims.

Early on in 2010, France banned “psychological violence within marriage”, becoming the first country to officially criminalize psychological abuse.

Pending Legislation

In South Carolina the legislature opted to amend the current Domestic Violence law to include Coercive Control.

Maryland bill, HB1352, and Illinois Domestic Violence Act authorizes a victim to petition for a peace order or protective order against another person whom the petitioner alleges has engaged in certain behavior toward the petitioner that is controlling or coercive is the only protection in place to date.

If you are an individual or an organization advocating for legal change/legislation which would prevent and protect individuals in high control groups and/or coercive relationships. Please contact us.