Bills affecting Survivor (domestic or sexual violence) in New Jersey — 2026 session

Provides rental and lease protections for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

Makes various changes to address sexual assault and child abuse and neglect involving military personnel; addresses protection, penalties, enforcement, jurisdiction, and victim compensation matters.

Establishes Hope Card Program to provide victims of domestic violence with restraining order quick reference wallet card; makes appropriation.

Concerns stalking and related restraining order protections for adoptive children and their adoptive parents victimized by persons whose parental rights to the adoptive children have been terminated.

Permits court to order transfer of billing responsibility for, and rights to, wireless telephone number to certain victims of domestic violence or stalking.

Establishes standards for court-ordered counseling for domestic violence offenders.

Provides that crime of official misconduct involving disclosure of domestic violence or sexual assault victim's personal information is second degree crime.

Permits court to order counseling for children in households with domestic violence in appropriate cases; establishes presumption of award of custody to domestic violence victim in appropriate cases.

Requires institutions of higher education to adopt affirmative consent standard and other policies regarding sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.

Requires enhanced reporting by independent expenditure committees; extends statute of limitations for campaign finance violations; exempts reports filed with Election Law Enforcement Commission from certain document redaction requirements.

Establishes alternative pathway for victims of domestic violence to obtain certain identification cards and licenses from MVC.

Expands crime of human trafficking and eliminates statute of limitations; establishes human trafficking response teams; expands human trafficking training and education requirements; appropriates $1 million to Commission on Human Trafficking.

Requires seizure of ammunition and certain firearm components in response to domestic violence restraining order or conviction.

Requires law enforcement to notify State Parole Board when parolee violates domestic violence restraining order.

"Stephanie's Law"; Requires AOC to establish publicly-accessible domestic violence registry; requires law enforcement officer to search State's domestic violence registries when conducting arrest.

Establishes "Support for Students Exposed to Domestic Violence Fund" in DOE to support public schools in addressing impact of domestic violence.

Requires sexual assault forensic evidence to be preserved for 10 years.

Expands the domestic violence statutes to encompass minors aged 16 and older.

Establishes priority for certain firearm-related background checks when applicant has obtained domestic violence restraining order.

Eliminates statute of limitations for prosecution of human trafficking crimes.