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AB 159

Establishes the Hope Card Program for applicants who have been granted an extended order for protection against domestic violence. (BDR 3-180)

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Melissa Hardy

AB 159 creates a free Hope Card to verify and display an extended order for domestic violence protection, issued by the AG for timely, safe proof.

(No further action taken.)
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Bill Summary · AB 159

AB 159 — Hope Card Program (BDR 3-180) — Summary

Status: No further action taken (ordered to inactive file 2025-09-13)
Introduced: January 8, 2025 (Assemblymember Hardy)
Primary subject: Domestic violence; verification card for extended protection orders

Purpose / Intent

AB 159 would create a statewide “Hope Card” Program to give applicants who are granted an extended order for protection against domestic violence a free, standardized proof card (physical and/or digital) that demonstrates the existence and term of the extended order. The program is intended to improve safety, verification, and access to information for victims and law enforcement.

Key provisions

  • Establishes the Hope Card Program in the Office of the Attorney General (OAG). The OAG must develop and administer the program after consultation/coordination with district and justice courts.
  • Delivery timeline: the OAG must provide the Hope Card to a requesting applicant as soon as practicable but no later than 10 business days after the extended order is granted.
  • Cost: No fee may be charged for providing a Hope Card.
  • Validity and format:
    • The Hope Card is valid until the extended order expires.
    • May be issued as a wallet-sized physical card, a digital card, or both.
  • Required and optional card content:
    • Must contain: applicant’s name and date of birth; court name, case number, date granted, and expiration date; card issuance and expiration dates.
    • May include (amendment/clarification): respondent/adverse party name and DOB, physical description, photograph (if available), names/descriptions of additional protected persons or animals, U.S. National Domestic Violence Hotline number, and other pertinent order information.
  • Application process: applicants for extended orders must indicate in their application whether they are requesting a Hope Card.
  • Confidentiality: applicants who reasonably believe disclosure of address/contact information would jeopardize safety may decline to provide it; such information would be kept confidential and accessible only to the court and authorized criminal justice agencies.
  • Penalty: knowingly presenting a fraudulent or expired Hope Card with intent to falsely represent protection under an extended order is a misdemeanor.

Who is affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: victims/applicants granted extended domestic violence protection orders.
  • Other affected parties: respondents/adverse parties, courts, the Office of the Attorney General (administration and issuance workload), law enforcement (verification), and local criminal justice systems (misuse prosecutions).
  • Fiscal note: bill indicates an effect on the State and that local governments could experience increased or newly provided terms of imprisonment in county/city jails (i.e., potential costs from misdemeanor prosecutions/incarceration).

Procedural history / timeline highlights

  • Referred to Assembly Judiciary (prefiled Jan 30, 2025).
  • Assembly passed the bill March 20, 2025 (Ayes 53, Noes 17).
  • Amended (Amendment No. 201) and reprinted (first reprint) to add detail on card contents, timing, and confidentiality.
  • Referred to Senate committees (Budget and Fiscal Review; Ways & Means) and received “Do Pass” in Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review (Ayes 13, Noes 0) on Sept 10, 2025.
  • Read on the Senate floor Sept 11–13, 2025; on Sept 13, 2025 Senator Grayson requested the bill be ordered to the inactive file. No further action taken.

Notes

  • The bill text and amendments provide procedural safeguards (timelines for hearings and card issuance) and flexibility (digital/physical formats, optional content) intended to balance victim safety, verification needs, and privacy concerns.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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