Establishes definitions that relate to the issuance of protective orders

HB 282 replaces outdated definitions in Missouri's protective order law to clarify what constitutes abuse, domestic violence, and coercive control. It adds specific definitions including "abusing a pet" (intentionally harming a pet to control a person), "coercive control" (isolating someone, controlling finances, or using immigration threats), and expanded "harassment" to cover digital stalking. These definitions directly affect domestic violence victims and abusers in court proceedings by standardizing how protective orders are issued. The bill makes it clearer for courts to recognize patterns of abuse beyond physical violence, such as emotional manipulation or digital harassment.