Coercive Control Bill Tracker

BETA

The ACECC Coercive Control bill tracker is designed to aid legislatures, advocates, and lobbyists to understand the importance and history of each coercive control bill that has passed. Today we are starting with a beta launch. Stay with us as we grow the bill tracker in four phases.

Recent Bills Enacted

California

SB1141

September 29, 2020, California Governor signed into to law SB1141. The bill amends CA family law code to include coercive control.

Hawaii

HB2425

On September 15, 2020, the Hawaii Governor signed into law an extensive criminal coercive control bill.

The Science Behind Coercive Control and Adverse Outcomes During Pregnancy

Not All Bills are Created Equal: A Review of Coercive Control Legislation

Hawaii and California Lead the Way Signing the First Coercive Control Bills in the Americas.

Bills Pending

New York

S5306

New York proposed a bill in the Senate on April 24, 2019, to establish the crime of Coercive Control and make it a Class E Felony. This bill is still in active review and is awaiting a Senate Committee hearing.

Maryland

HB1352

February 7, 2020, a bill introduced to the House that expands the state definition of abuse. The bill also adds coercive control as a reason to petition for a peace order or protective order.

South Carolina

HB5271

Introduced in the House on February 20, 2020, a bill to amend the 1976 Domestic Violence Bill and currently residing in the House Committee on Judiciary, South Carolina is adding section 16-25-130 which creates the offense of Coercive Control.

Austraila

HB2425

New South Wales parliment, a from the NSW Labor Opposition introduced legislation that would give domestic abusers up to 10 years in prisonif convicted of coercive control. The progress of the bill has run into some snags early on,

International Bills Enacted

Scotland

Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018

On March 9, 2018, The Domestic Abuse Act passed by the Scottish Parliament created a specific offense of domestic abuse which covers not only physical abuse but other forms of psychological harm and coercive and controlling behavior. Scotland has the most extensive laws on Coercive Control.

United Kingdom

Serious Crimes Act of 2015 (UK)

In June 2015, the UK added Section 76 to the Serious Crime Act 2015 and it was passed in December 2015. The law was created to recognize controlling or coercive behavior in an intimate or family relationship as Domestic Abuse.

Wales

Serious Crimes Act of 2015 (Wales)

June 2015, the Government in Wales, along with the UK, has criminalized coercive control. Much like the UK the law recognizes controlling or coercive behavior in an intimate or family relationship as Domestic Abuse.

Ireland

Domestic Violence Act of 2018

On May 8, 2018, Ireland’s Domestic Violence Act added the offense of Coercive Control. This law protects not only victims in familial relationships but intimate partners as well.

France

2010-769

September 10, 2010, France adopted into law a ban against “psychological violence within marriage”, becoming the first country to officially criminalize psychological abuse. France has also enacted protections for victims along with high penalties, including fines and imprisonment. In July 2020, improvements were made to protect victims and children.