Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation aimed to expand protections in domestic violence cases in criminal and family court, her office announced Monday.

Under a new law known as “Melanie’s Law,” all family and household members will be afforded the same process in court, including the ability to obtain an order of protection. This amends previous laws that allowed only unrelated children under the age of 18 to be included on the adult family member’s order of protection.

The law is named after Melanie Chianese, who was killed by her mother’s ex-boyfriend while he was awaiting sentencing for a domestic violence case. Melanie’s mother was able to get orders of protection for herself and Melanie’s four-year-old son, but Melanie was ineligible because she was 29.

“Melanie Chianese should be standing with us today, along with countless New Yorkers lost at the hands of senseless and preventable acts of domestic violence,” Hochul said in a statement. “By signing Melanie’s law, we are committing New York State, our law enforcement and our legal system to the fundamental principle that every person deserves to be protected.”

Melanie’s Law passed in the state Senate in 2023 but not the Assembly. This year it passed in both chambers with broad bipartisan support.

Under another piece of legislation, family and household members will be permitted to file family offense petitions in family court.