AB-731/ SB-708: Phone calls for Incarcerated People

This bill guarantees that people in state prisons, county jails, and juvenile facilities receive a minimum amount of free phone and messaging access, and it bans charging them—or their families—beyond those required minimums. It also prevents these telecom services from replacing in-person visits and requires the Department of Corrections to secure statewide contracts that counties can join for free or be reimbursed for if they do not join. The bill includes reporting requirements for transparency and provides state funding over two years to cover these telecom costs.