H 1796 Massachusetts House · 193rd Legislature (2023-2024)

An Act relative to telephone service for inmates in all correctional and other penal institutions in the Commonwealth

This bill mandates that the Department of Correction and local sheriffs provide free voice telephone services to all inmates in Massachusetts correctional facilities, including jails and mental health units. The law requires these communication services to be available at all times, provided they do not disrupt educational programs or daily facility operations. Additionally, the bill ensures that both the incarcerated person and the recipient of the call incur no charges for these calls for a period of 90 days following the bill's enactment.
Bill status passed 3 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2023
Committee Review
Feb 2023
Senate Passage
Feb 2023
Governor
Introduced Feb 16, 2023 Last action Jun 5, 2024
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate. No roll call record of that vote is available.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
4
Key actions
1
Committee
1
Feb 16, 2023
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred
upper
Feb 16, 2023
Committee
Referred to the committee on The Judiciary
lower
1 primary · 47 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Chynah Tyler
Chynah Tyler
DDemocratic
MA
7th Suffolk
Co
Photo of Adrian Madaro
Adrian Madaro
DDemocratic
MA
1st Suffolk
Co
Photo of Becca Rausch
Becca Rausch
DDemocratic
MA
Norfolk, Worcester and Middlesex
Co
Photo of Brandy Fluker-Reid
Brandy Fluker-Reid
DDemocratic
MA
12th Suffolk
Co
Photo of Carmine Gentile
Carmine Gentile
DDemocratic
MA
13th Middlesex
Co
Photo of Carol Doherty
Carol Doherty
DDemocratic
MA
3rd Bristol
Co
Photo of Chris Hendricks
Chris Hendricks
DDemocratic
MA
11th Bristol
Co
Photo of Chris Worrell
Chris Worrell
DDemocratic
MA
5th Suffolk
Co
Photo of Christine Barber
Christine Barber
DDemocratic
MA
34th Middlesex
Co
Photo of Christopher Markey
Christopher Markey
DDemocratic
MA
9th Bristol
Co
Photo of Dave Rogers
Dave Rogers
DDemocratic
MA
24th Middlesex