APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR​

​

HB296 State correctional facilities; visitation policies, reports.
Introduced by: Holly M. Seibold (Chief Patron)

View the bill here.
Requires the Department of Corrections to establish and publicly post on its website and in the lobby of each state correctional facility an objective dress code for individuals visiting a state correctional facility and specifies certain requirements for and limitations on what such dress code may include. The bill prohibits any state correctional facility from enforcing a dress code that is more restrictive than the dress code posted by the Department.

The bill also prohibits any individual from being denied in-person visitation unless such individual is in clear violation of visitation rules or policies. Prior to denying entry to a visitor, the bill requires the reasoning to be (i) reviewed in person by the facility administrative duty officer and (ii) approved by a regional administrator or superior. The bill requires the Department to submit a report annually on or before November 1 to the General Assembly and the Governor with information on visitors denied entry to state correctional facilities, including the following information disaggregated by facility and by month: (a) the number of visitors denied entry and (b) the reasoning for such denials, including the specific rules or policies such visitors were alleged to have violated.

The bill requires the Department to convene a work group consisting of relevant stakeholders to consider goals and develop practical policy and legislative recommendations related to facilitating visitation within state correctional facilities and report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly no later than November 1, 2026.

2/05/2026 Read third time and passed House (95‑Y 3‑N 0‑A)

3/05/2026 Senate amendments agreed to by House (71‑Y 27‑N 0‑A)

4/08/2026 Approved by Governor‑Chapter 380 (effective 7/1/2026)

​​

HB173 State correctional facilities; visitation policies, annual report.

Introduced by: Bonita G. Anthony (Chief Patron, By Request) [D]

View the bill here.

Sets additional visitation standards for visitors to state correctional facilities. The bill requires the Department of Corrections (the Department) to provide extended or additional visitation access for long-distance visitors. The bill provides that each in-person visit shall last a minimum of two hours unless shortened at the request of either the visitor or the incarcerated individual, or in response to an active security event. The bill also provides that visitation privileges may be suspended only for conduct occurring during visitation that presents a direct and substantial threat to the physical safety of participants or the security of the correctional facility. The bill provides a timeline and process for appealing any suspension of visitation rights. Finally, the bill directs the Department to convene a work group to consider and develop practical policy and legislative recommendations regarding visitation. The work group is required to report its findings and specific legislative and policy recommendations to the General Assembly by October 1, 2026.  This bill is identical to SB 276.

1/29/2026 House-PS #2 subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (5‑Y 2‑N)

2/06/2026 Reported from House-Public Safety committee with substitute and referred to Appropriations

2/11/2026 Reported from House-Appropriations committee (15‑Y 7‑N)

2/17/2026 Read third time and passed House (65‑Y 31‑N 0‑A)

2/27/2026 Senate. Reported from S-Rehabilitation and Social Services committee with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations​​

3/04/2026 Reported from S-Finance and Appropriations committee with substitute (15‑Y 0‑N)

3/09/2026 Passed Senate with substitute (40‑Y 0‑N 0‑A)

3/10/2026  Senate substitute rejected by House (2‑Y 97‑N 0‑A)

3/11/2026 Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote (40‑Y 0‑N 0‑A)

3/11/2026 Senate requested conference committee

3/12/2026 Conferees appointed by Senate

3/12/2026 Senate Conferees: Carroll Foy, Jones, DeSteph

3/14/2026 Conference report agreed to by House (65‑Y 31‑N 0‑A)

3/30/2026 House. Enrolled

4/13/2026 Approved by Governor‑Chapter 571 (effective 7/1/2026)

​

​​

 

FAILED BILLS

​

HB1246 State correctional facilities; visitation privileges; Visitation Enhancement Program established.
Introduced by: Jackie H. Glass (Chief Patron) [D]

View the bill here.
State correctional facilities; visitation privileges; Visitation Enhancement Program established. Establishes the Visitation Enhancement Program (the Program) and requires all state correctional facilities to participate in the Program and provide visitation privileges to inmates in accordance with the standards specified in the bill. The bill provides that all inmates in state correctional facilities shall be classified within one of three phases of the Program, which shall be based on the class level at which the inmate earns good time such as good conduct time, good conduct allowances, or earned sentence credits. The bill specifies certain enhanced visitation privileges permitted for each of the three phases of the Program.

The bill also requires visitors be permitted to visit an inmate for at least two hours prior to a visit being terminated due to capacity issues and provides that if the visitation area is at maximum capacity, state correctional facility staff shall ask visitors, on a voluntary basis, to end their visit. The bill states that if a sufficient number of visitors fail to volunteer, staff shall terminate visits, beginning with the first visitors processed, until the required seating or space is available for incoming visitors.

1/14/2026 Referred to Committee on House-Public Safety

1/23/2026 Assigned HMPPS sub: Subcommittee #2

1/29/2026 House-PS #2 subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (5‑Y 2‑N)

2/6/2026 House Stricken from docket by H-Public Safety committee

​​