VermontCorrections department must report on free inmate calls and wages
Starting June 16, 2026, the Department of Corrections must report by December 1 on free inmate telecommunications options and current inmate wages.
What it does
The Department of Corrections must report to two legislative committees on options for free inmate telecommunications services and the effects of current inmate wages. The act does not itself provide free services or change wages.
Argument forThe reports could help lawmakers compare ways to provide free communications and understand how current wages affect incarcerated people.
Argument againstIncarcerated people may see no immediate change because the act requires reports but does not provide free services or raise wages.
More detail
The Department of Corrections must provide legislative committees with reports about telecommunications and inmate wages. The reports concern people held in the Department of Corrections’ custody and must go to the House Committee on Corrections and Institutions and the Senate Committee on Institutions. The telecommunications report must address options for providing services at no cost to inmates. The wage report must address the effects of current inmate wages. The text requires reports and does not itself provide free services or change inmate wages. The reports are due on or before December 1, 2026. The act takes effect June 16, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 29House message: Governor approved bill on June 16, 2026Latest
- May 29Signed by Governor Phil Scott on June 16, 2026Became Law
- May 29Delivered to Governor on June 10, 2026To Governor
- May 28House message: House concurred in Senate proposal of amendmentMinor
- May 27Senate proposal of amendment concurred inMinor
- May 27Rules suspended and taken up for immediate consideration, pending entry on Notice Calendar, as moved by Rep. McCoy of Poultney
- May 27Senate Message: Passed in concurrence with proposal of amendmentMinor
- May 27Rules suspended & messaged to House forthwith, on motion of Senator Baruth
- May 27Read 3rd time & passed in concurrence with proposal of amendmentPassed 2nd Chamber
- May 27Pending third reading, proposal of amendment agreed toMinor
- May 27Proposal of amendment by Senator(s) Vyhovsky; textMinor
- May 27Rules suspended & bill placed on all remaining stages of passage, on motion of Senator Baruth
- May 27Reported favorably by Senator Major for Committee on Institutions, read 2nd time and 3rd reading orderedMinor
- May 27Favorable report by Committee on InstitutionsMinor
- May 27New Business/Second ReadingMinor
- May 26Favorable report by Committee on InstitutionsMinor
- May 26Second ReadingMinor
- May 26Entered on Notice Calendar
- Mar 25Read 1st time & referred to Committee on InstitutionsMinor
- Mar 20Read third time and passedPassed 1st Chamber
- Mar 20Rep. Cina of Burlington and Donahue of Northfield moved to amend the bill, which was agreed to
- Mar 20Action Calendar: Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 19Third Reading orderedMinor
- Mar 19Report of Committee on Corrections and Institutions agreed to
- Mar 19Rep. Squirrell of Underhill recommended for the Committee on Appropriations
- Mar 19Rep. Waszazak of Barre City recommended for the Committee on Ways and Means
- Mar 19Rep. Casey of Montpelier reported for the Committee on Corrections and Institutions
- Mar 19Read second timeMinor
- Mar 19Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- Mar 18Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- Mar 13Pending entry on Notice Calendar, referred to Committee on Appropriations per Rule 35(a)
- Mar 12Pending entry on Notice Calendar, referred to Committee on Ways and Means per Rule 35(a)
- 2025
- Feb 20Read first time and referred to the Committee on Corrections and InstitutionsIntroduced
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