HB 2657 Summary

• Establishes judicial procedures to prevent and remedy abusive litigation, defined as lawsuits filed primarily to harass, intimidate, or maintain contact with a former intimate partner by someone who has been found to have committed domestic violence against them.

• Allows parties to request a court order restricting abusive litigation in cases involving current or former intimate partners where one party has been found by court to have committed domestic violence, with no filing fee required.

• Requires courts to dismiss or deny abusive litigation actions and impose costs, attorneys' fees, and prefiling restrictions (up to 72 months) on perpetrators; restrictions can be extended if further abuse or abusive litigation occurs.

• Restricts persons under a prefiling order from filing new cases or motions without prior court approval; courts must determine whether proposed litigation constitutes abusive litigation or has reasonable grounds.

• Takes effect January 1, 2025; requires courts to create motion forms and instructions by January 1, 2025, and judiciary to provide judge training by July 1, 2025.