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SB 351

Requiring correctional facilities and jails to allow inmates and prisoners to make telephone calls at no cost.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Tim Shallenburger

Kansas bill mandates free inmate phone calls at all correctional facilities and jails, eliminating current per-minute fees paid by incarcerated people and their families.

Died in Committee
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Bill Summary · SB 351

Legislative bill overview

SB 351 would require all Kansas correctional facilities and jails to provide inmates and prisoners with free telephone access. Currently, incarcerated individuals typically pay fees to make calls, with costs ranging from $0.50 to several dollars per minute depending on the facility and call type. This bill would eliminate those charges entirely.

Why this is important

Phone access is critical for maintaining family connections, legal representation coordination, and successful reentry planning—factors that research shows reduce recidivism. Currently, calling costs create significant financial hardship for low-income families of incarcerated people, effectively limiting communication rights based on economic status. The shift to free calls would affect facility budgets, inmate communication patterns, and potentially rehabilitation outcomes.

Potential points of contention

  • Facility funding impact: Correctional facilities rely on telephone commission revenue (typically 40-60% of call charges go to the state/facility); eliminating this requires identifying alternative funding sources or accepting budget reductions
  • Cost burden and implementation: Facilities must absorb infrastructure and operational costs; potential concerns about call volume management and system capacity without revenue incentives to limit usage
  • Public safety perspectives: Some argue that paid systems help regulate call frequency and provide revenue for prison programs; others counter that free calls improve behavior and reduce institutional violence by maintaining family bonds

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

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