California bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session
California SB 498
Incarcerated persons: communications.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became law
Sponsors
- Becker (Democratic)
Cosponsors (4)
- Bonta (Democratic)
- Quirk-Silva (Democratic)
- Schultz (Democratic)
- Sharp-Collins (Democratic)
Summary
Official abstract published by the California legislature· summary
Under existing law, a person sentenced to imprisonment in state prison or in a county jail for a felony offense, as specified, may, during that period of confinement, be deprived only of those rights as are reasonably related to legitimate penological interests. Existing law requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to provide inmates with accessible, functional voice communication services free of charge to the person initiating and the person receiving the communication.
This bill would additionally require the department to provide inmates electronic messaging services as described above. The bill would prohibit staff at a department facility, if an incarcerated individual is authorized to possess and use a tablet or other device for voice communications, from disconnecting any communications conducted by the individual on the device based solely on the duration of the call.
Text versions
- 04/06/26 - Amended Assembly· Apr 6, 2026
- 05/23/25 - Amended Senate· May 23, 2025
- 02/19/25 - Introduced· Feb 19, 2025
- SB498
Roll-call votes
State vote data last updated Oct 15, 2026, 8:06 AM.
| Date | Vote | Result | Your legislators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 9, 2026 House | Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Jun 4, 2025 Senate | 3rd Reading | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| May 23, 2025 Senate | Do pass as amended | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Apr 7, 2025 Senate | Placed on suspense file | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Mar 25, 2025 Senate | Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] | pass | Set your home in California to see |
Actions
- Aug 13, 2026 · House
August 13 hearing: Held in committee and under submission. - Jun 24, 2026 · House
June 24 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file. - Jun 9, 2026 · House
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (June 9). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. - Jun 9, 2026 · House
Coauthors revised. - Apr 6, 2026 · House
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S. - Jun 16, 2025 · House
Referred to Com. on PUB. S. - Jun 5, 2025 · House
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk. - Jun 4, 2025 · Senate
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 1504.) Ordered to the Assembly. - May 27, 2025 · Senate
Read second time. Ordered to third reading. - May 23, 2025 · Senate
Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading. - May 23, 2025 · Senate
From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 1202.) (May 23). - May 16, 2025 · Senate
Set for hearing May 23. - Apr 7, 2025 · Senate
April 7 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file. - Mar 28, 2025 · Senate
Set for hearing April 7. - Mar 25, 2025 · Senate
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 533.) (March 25). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. - Mar 7, 2025 · Senate
Set for hearing March 25. - Feb 26, 2025 · Senate
Referred to Com. on PUB. S. - Feb 20, 2025 · Senate
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 22. - Feb 19, 2025 · Senate
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.