Draft would define injury and fear in family assault cases

Bodily injury would include visible injuries, physical pain, and temporary illness or loss of body or mental function. The definition would cover assault involving current or former partners and family members, including relatives through adoption or remarriage, and apply to the other laws named in Section 1. For the assault offense, causing injury must be purposeful or knowing, or negligent when a weapon is involved. The draft proposed an October 1, 2025, start date, but it died in the legislative process.

Reasonable fear of bodily injury would mean believing that injury is about to happen. The definition would apply to partner or family member assault and the other laws named in Section 1. A reasonable person in similar circumstances must share that belief, even if no injury occurs. For the assault offense, the person must cause that fear purposely or knowingly. The draft proposed an October 1, 2025, start date, but it died in the legislative process.