Assemblyman Anil Beephan, Jr. (R,C-East Fishkill) participated in a bipartisan press conference today announcing the Legislature is close to passing a bill he has championed since before he started working as a representative: “Melanie’s Law.” Beephan has been hard at work establishing bipartisan support for this legislation since his arrival to Albany in January and is hopeful the bill will be passed in the Assembly by the end of the 2023 Legislative Session season.

“Melanie’s Law” honors the life of Melanie Chianese, a young mother killed by her own mother’s ex-boyfriend after Melanie was not included in her mother’s order of protection. Melanie’s infant son and her mother were issued orders of protection from the killer; however, Melanie was deemed ineligible due to her age, 29, at the time of her death. Melanie’s Law closes that loophole to include persons related “by consanguinity or affinity to parties who are or have been in, on the order of protection.” Beephan believes he has found the bipartisan support needed to pass the bill in the Assembly this year.

“We are gathering support to remember Melanie Chianese, a young woman whose life was tragically cut short due to a heinous act of violence. Melanie's story highlights a critical flaw in our current legal system, where her mother's ex-boyfriend was prohibited from contacting her mother but not her, ultimately leading to this devastating outcome,” Beephan said.

“We cannot let such loopholes persist. That is why I stand before you today, urging my colleagues to support Melanie’s Law. This legislation will close that dangerous gap and empower our courts to issue orders of protection for immediate family members or household members of the named victims, regardless of age. We owe it to Melanie’s memory, and to all the potential victims out there, to ensure their safety and well-being. Let us come together and demand justice, compassion, and change. Let us stand united in our support for Melanie’s Law,” Beephan concluded.