Bill > HB676

This bill mandates that all state-run or contracted youth and adult correctional facilities in Hawaii must provide free and accessible voice communication services to incarcerated individuals, ensuring that neither the person initiating nor the person receiving the call incurs any charges. It explicitly prohibits any state agency from profiting from these communication services, addressing concerns about predatory pricing and financial burdens on families, particularly those of color, who often go into debt to maintain contact with loved ones. The bill also requires that these communication services supplement, not replace, in-person visits and that the level of access to communication services remains at least as good as it was on January 15, 2025. Furthermore, it tasks the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) with establishing quality standards and rules for these free services and requires the PUC to report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature by 2027. The bill also includes appropriations to fund these free communication services and to support the Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification system, which may lose funding from communication service commissions due to new federal regulations.

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https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=676&year=2026