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Bill

S 7657

Establishes a bill of rights for family members and visitors of incarcerated individuals

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Cordell Cleare

Establishes a formal bill of rights for families and visitors of incarcerated people, protecting visitation, communication, information access, and safe grievance channels.

REFERRED TO CRIME VICTIMS, CRIME AND CORRECTION
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Bill Summary · S 7657

Summary of Bill S 7657

Purpose and context

Bill S 7657, introduced on April 25, 2025, is titled “Establishes a bill of rights for family members and visitors of incarcerated individuals.” The bill’s sponsor is Cordell Cleare (primary). The measure has been referred to the Crime Victims, Crime and Correction committee.

What the bill would do (as indicated by the title)

  • Establish a formal set of rights for the family members and other visitors of people who are incarcerated.
  • Create a framework to govern how facilities interact with and treat these visitors, with the aim of ensuring certain protections, services, and access.

Provisions (text not provided)

The specific statutory text is not included in the provided information. If enacted, typical elements in bills of this nature might include:
- Visitation rights and scheduling, including reasonable hours, access to facilities, and process for denying or restricting visits.
- Communication rights, such as reasonable access to letters, phone calls, and approved electronic communications.
- Access to information about incarcerated individuals (where permissible under privacy and safety considerations).
- Safety, nondiscrimination, and grievance procedures for visitors who experience issues at facilities.
- Accessibility and language/translation services for non-English speakers or individuals with disabilities.
- Protections against retaliation for exercising rights granted under the bill.
- Training and implementation standards for correctional staff to uphold the rights.

Note: The exact rights, procedures, and any exceptions would be defined in the bill’s statutory text if enacted.

Affected parties and impacts

  • Primary beneficiaries: Family members and other visitors of incarcerated individuals who would gain protected rights and protections under the bill.
  • Affected institutions: Correctional facilities and their staff, which would be responsible for implementing the rights and procedures.
  • Potential impacts: Changes to visitation policies, communication protocols, and grievance handling; possible budget and training needs for facilities.

Procedural history and timeline

  • Introduced: April 25, 2025.
  • Status: Referred to the Crime Victims, Crime and Correction committee (listed twice in actions, indicating initial referral and an additional or parallel entry).
  • Next steps: If the committee advances the bill, it would proceed to floor consideration, potential amendments, and votes before any final passage.

Sponsor

  • Cordell Cleare (primary sponsor).

Next steps for readers

  • Review the full bill text (when available) to understand the exact rights, definitions, exceptions, and enforcement mechanisms.
  • Monitor committee hearings and any amendments for changes to scope or impact.
  • Consider how the proposed rights would interact with existing state law, department policies, and budget implications.

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

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