A bipartisan group of lawmakers at the New York state Capitol are rallying for the passage of what is known as Melanie’s Law.

It's intended to close a loophole and ensure courts issuing orders of protection extend to immediate family members or household members of a victim.

A Hudson Valley mother is using her own tragedy to make sure that in New York, what happened to her family never happens to anyone ever again.

Cheryl Chianese-Cavalli’s daughter, Melanie, was murdered nearly two years ago by Cheryl’s ex-boyfriend.

“Melanie died because of who she was. She died because she was my daughter,” she said.

She said his abusive behavior, which she described as including stalking, resulted in her being granted an order of protection.

Melanie, a mother herself, tried to get one too. She was denied.

“Domestic violence abusers want nothing more than to see their abusee suffer a lifetime of pain and suffering,” she said. “My offender knew a lifetime of pain and suffering would have been to take the most important person in my life away from me and that was my daughter.”

State Sen. Michelle Hinchey says the bill would close a significant loophole in the state’s family court act and the criminal procedure laws when it comes to orders of protection.

“You can get one for yourself and you can get one for minors but you cannot get one right now for someone who is over the age of 18,” she said.

Co-sponsor Republican state Sen. Rob Rolison said the bill is common sense, pointing to its support across the political spectrum.

“The number one priority of any government, state government, federal government, local government is public safety,” he said. “When you identify these glaring gaps in public safety, you need to act. What you are seeing here today is a bipartisan group of individuals who are ready to act."

Chianese-Cavalli is making it clear why she has devoted her time and energy to this bill.

“If Melanie’s Law passes,” she said, “and if Melanie’s Law saves just one life, our mission has been fulfilled.”

Melanie’s Law passed in the state Senate last session but did not pass in the Assembly. The hope is to pass the bill and send it to the governor’s desk this session. It is sponsored in the Assembly by Assemblymember Brian Cunningham and co-sponsored by Republican Anil Beephan.