SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 3922

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 11, 2026

      The Senate Judiciary Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 3922.

      This bill establishes the Hope Card Program in New Jersey.  Under the bill, a victim of domestic violence who obtains a final restraining order may request a Hope Card from the court at no cost.  The Hope Card is a laminated, durable, plastic, wallet-sized card containing essential information about the restraining order, such as the court of issuance, date of issuance, and case number; the identifying information and characteristics of the defendant; the terms of the restraining order, including any firearms restrictions; and the names of all persons protected by the restraining order. 

      The Hope Card is intended to provide persons protected by a final restraining order with a convenient and portable means of carrying their restraining order information, which may be quickly and easily presented to a person investigating a report of domestic violence against the cardholder, if necessary.  That person shall verify the information on the card with the State’s confidential domestic violence central registry as part of any such investigation.  See section 1 of P.L.1999, c.421 (C.2C:25-34).

      A person issued a card may also disclose the information contained on the card, notwithstanding the general confidentiality attached to such information, for any lawful purpose in furtherance of receiving or providing services for domestic violence victims.  However, the bill requires any person who receives information contained on a Hope Card to take all reasonable measures to preserve confidentiality with respect to that information.  

      The bill provides that the Administrative Office of the Courts will develop both an online and a paper-based method to request a Hope Card.  The bill also provides that the Administrative Office of the Courts will consult with the Attorney General, the Advisory Council on Domestic Violence, the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, and other knowledgeable persons or organizations concerning the design of the card.  The bill further requires the Attorney General and the Administrative Director of the Courts to provide training to law enforcement officers, prosecutors, judges, and court personnel on the implementation of the program.

      The bill additionally provides that theft, defacement, alteration, or falsification of a Hope Card by the defendant who is the subject of the restraining order for which a card is issued is an act of contempt of court in the fourth degree.  A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.

      Finally, the bill provides for an annual appropriation to the Judiciary for the implementation of the program.

      The Hope Card Program established by this bill is modeled on similar programs now in effect in the states of Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Montana, New York, Oregon, Virginia, and Washington.