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Evergreen Ledger

SHB 1460

Signed

House

Protection order hope cards

Concerning protection order hope cards.

How does a bill become law?
  1. Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
  2. Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
  3. Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
  4. Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
  5. Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
  6. Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
Introduced: February 27, 2025
Last Action: May 12, 2025
Status: C 222 L 25
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AI Analysis

This analysis was generated by AI and may contain errors. It is not legal advice. Always refer to the official bill text for authoritative information.
People & CommunitiesPeople-leaningCorporate & Wealthy Interests

This bill creates a hope card program to help survivors of abuse more easily share key details of their protection orders with law enforcement and others. The cards—available in digital or physical form—contain essential information about the order and can link to the full court file, making enforcement faster and safer.

  • The Administrative Office of the Courts must create and manage a program to issue protection order hope cards in collaboration with courts, sheriffs, police, and victim advocacy groups.
  • Hope cards may be digital (e.g., QR code, barcode) and must include the restrained person’s name and date of birth, the protected person’s name and date of birth, and details of the protection order (e.g., court, case number, effective dates, restrictions).
  • The card may also link to a digital copy of the full protection order file, including the petition, hearing notices, and proof of service.
  • Survivors with a valid full protection order (e.g., domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, etc.) can request a hope card starting January 1, 2025, from the courts or the Administrative Office of the Courts.
  • Hope cards are free to request (no fee for original or duplicate), and the card has the same legal effect as the underlying protection order.
  • The program must be developed with input from superior and district courts, county clerks, law enforcement, and victim advocates.

Who is affected

  • Survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or harassment who hold valid protection orders — People who have obtained a full protection order (e.g., domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, etc.) can request a physical or digital card that makes key details of their order easily accessible to law enforcement or others, improving safety and enforcement.
  • Law enforcement agencies and officers — Law enforcement officers can quickly verify the existence and terms of a protection order by scanning the card, improving response accuracy and efficiency during emergencies or routine interactions.
  • Administrative Office of the Courts and court clerks — Court staff and administrative offices will need to implement and manage the new hope card program, including developing the digital system, coordinating with courts, and issuing cards at no cost to requesters.
  • Victim advocacy organizations and court-related associations — Victim advocacy groups and court partners will be consulted during program development and may help educate survivors about the new card option.
Effective: January 1, 2025Fiscal impact: The Administrative Office of the Courts will incur costs to develop, implement, and administer the hope card program, including software development, card production (if physical), and staff time. No fee will be charged to requesters, so the state will bear the full cost.
Model: Intel/Qwen3-Coder-Next-int4-AutoRoundGenerated: Mar 20, 2026 at 2:58 AM

Pro/Con Analysis

Stronger case for benefits

Potential Benefits (4)

  • Survivors can carry a free, legally recognized card that enables rapid, reliable verification of protection orders by law enforcement—reducing delays, miscommunication, and二次 victimization during emergencies or routine encounters (e.g., traffic stops).

    Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1), (3), (4), (5)

  • Inclusion of protected persons’ and minor children’s names and dates of birth—and optional access to full case history—ensures law enforcement can quickly assess scope and applicability of the order, especially in multi-person households or when the restrained person challenges custody or access.

    Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2)(a)(ii), (b)

  • By requiring collaboration with victim advocacy groups and courts, the program is designed to center survivor safety and reduce procedural barriers—helping marginalized survivors (e.g., non-English speakers, rural residents, low-income individuals) access enforcement without legal representation.

    Rights & LibertiesPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1), (3)

  • Granting the hope card “the same effect as the underlying protection order” eliminates ambiguity about its legal standing, reducing officer discretion and increasing consistency in enforcement across jurisdictions.

    Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(5)
Potential Concerns (3)

  • The state must fully fund development, issuance, and administration of the hope card program—including software, card production (if physical), and staff time—without recouping costs from survivors, increasing pressure on state budget resources during a time of constrained fiscal capacity.

    FinancialRef: Sec. 1(4)

  • Removal of sensitive identifying details (sex, race, eye/hair color, height, weight, distinguishing features) from the card may reduce law enforcement’s ability to verify identity in time-sensitive situations, potentially undermining safety for survivors with ambiguous or non-conforming appearances.

    Rights & LibertiesLean peopleRef: Sec. 1(2)(a)(i)

  • Linking to the full digital case file via QR code introduces potential cybersecurity and privacy risks if not rigorously safeguarded—e.g., unauthorized access, data scraping, or accidental exposure of sensitive court records.

    Public SafetyRef: Sec. 1(2)(b)

Who Is Most Affected

Survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or harassment who hold valid protection ordersPositive Impact

Survivors—especially those in rural areas, without smartphones, or with limited digital literacy—may benefit most if physical cards are available and widely distributed. However, those without reliable access to courts or who fear retaliation may still hesitate to request or carry the card.

Law enforcement agencies and officersPositive Impact

Officers gain a standardized, verifiable tool to quickly confirm order validity and terms—potentially reducing response time and liability. However, they still rely on survivors proactively carrying the card, and may lack training on how to use or interpret it.

Administrative Office of the Courts and court clerksMixed Impact

Courts and the Administrative Office of the Courts will face new operational and technical responsibilities, including cybersecurity management and outreach. While this expands their role, it also adds unfunded mandates during a period of budget tightening.

Victim advocacy organizations and court-related associationsPositive Impact

Victim advocacy groups are embedded in the design process and may gain influence and funding opportunities—but also bear added responsibility to educate survivors and monitor implementation for equity gaps.