Assemblyman Anil Beephan (R,C-East Fishkill) is looking to partner with Gov. Kathy Hochul and AM Cunningham more closely following her State of the State presentation, where she highlighted that combating domestic violence is one of her benchmark goals for the 2024 calendar year. Beephan has already been doing his part by pushing for the approval of ‘Melanie’s Law’ alongside AM Brian Cunningham in the state Assembly.

Named after Melanie Chianese, a Wappinger resident and mother who lost her life at the hands of her mother’s ex-boyfriend, who was under supervised release pending sentencing after pleading guilty to a domestic violence felony. Melanie’s mother and her son had an order of protection against the perpetrator. Still, current law could not protect Melanie in the same way as she was over the age of 18.

“I was encouraged by the way Gov. Hochul discussed her desire to seal the loopholes that abusers and perpetrators have used to bring harm to others, and it makes me hopeful that a proposal like ‘Melanie’s Law’ will be voted & signed into law this year,” Beephan said. “Melanie could not acquire the help she needed due to our current cumbersome laws. I look forward to remedying this issue with my colleagues in the Legislature and hopefully with Gov. Hochul this year.”