Isaac’s Voice Signed Into Law

Legislation that State Representative Dean Urdahl authored to improve notification requirements on orders for protection in the wake of a local tragedy has been signed into law. Under previous state law, a person who is the family or household member of a person who has been abused can petition the court for an order for protection. Notice of any changes to the order must be provided to the petitioner and the respondent.

Urdahl’s measure, known as “Isaac’s Voice,” requires notice to also be provided to any custodian of the petitioner’s minor children. Urdahl says his legislation is in response to a situation in Renville County, where 13-year-old Isaac Hoff – who was protecting his mother from being assaulted by her boyfriend – was stabbed by the boyfriend and died from his injuries.

Isaac’s grandmother was the custodian of Isaac and was never informed by Isaac’s mother that an order for protection had been filed against the murderer, or that it had been revoked. The grandmother claims if she knew that she would never have let her grandson visit his mother.

Urdahl’s bill increases the scope of notice of any order for protection, hearing on an order for protection, and cancellation or modification of an order for protection in that it is provided to a custodian of a petitioner’s minor children. This bill received bipartisan support in the House and the Senate with Senator Andrew Lang of Olivia authoring the companion legislation. It passed as part of an omnibus package late in the 2024 session and Gov. Tim Walz signed it into law.

Urdahl says this was a good bill to address a very important issue and he’s pleased they were able to make this change in state law. He says it won’t bring back Isaac, but might help us stop such a horrific loss from happening in the future.