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Survivor urges 24‑hour notice before service of restraining orders; committee refers bill to Public Safety
Summary
A harassment‑restraining‑order bill (HF4585) would require law enforcement to make reasonable efforts to notify petitioners at least 24 hours before service; a survivor described threats and missed notifications. The Judiciary Committee referred the bill to Public Safety for additional work.
Representative Myers presented House File 4585 to allow petitioners seeking harassment restraining orders, upon request, to receive advance notice before respondents are served so they can take safety measures.
A survivor who used the name Dominique (last name withheld) described targeted, escalating email harassment that included personal details and images. She said she repeatedly tried to confirm when service would occur because she feared retaliation; she was not notified before an evening service and said the delay caused acute safety concerns. "The passage of this bill is important to me because it would allow victims the notice and opportunity to protect themselves and their families during the service of a harassment restraining order," she said.
Members asked whether similar notice exists for orders for protection and whether the bill imposes new liability on local law enforcement; nonpartisan staff (Mr. Johnson) said notice rules for orders for protection closely mirror harassment‑restraining‑order provisions but that the bill is silent on creating new liability. Members asked sponsors to coordinate with public safety agencies as the bill advances; the committee referred HF4585 to the Public Safety Committee.
Next steps: authors will work with public safety stakeholders to align notice practices for related protective orders and consider enforcement and agency burden questions.
