Committee approves PCS adding marriage‑fraud checkbox to domestic‑violence petitions

Representative Daniels presented PCS for HB 485, which adds a new checkbox on domestic‑violence petition forms allowing petitioners to allege they are victims of "marriage fraud," defines the term as a marriage induced by a non‑citizen primarily to evade law or obtain benefits other than those inherent to marriage, and requires clerks to notify state immigration enforcement within 24 hours after an injunction is issued alleging marriage fraud.

Paul Waldemuller supplied extended public testimony describing his personal history and urging passage of the PCS; he characterized himself as a victim of immigration marriage fraud and said the measure would provide relief to others he described as similarly harmed. Committee members heard the testimony and moved to vote.

The committee took a roll call and reported PCS for HB 485 favorably, 14 yeas, 0 nays. The sponsor closed and the committee adjourned.