Issues by State
States across the country are realizing that growing prison populations and costs are the result of adopting mandatory minimum sentencing laws and prison policies that keep people behind bars too long without increasing public safety.
See the states we’re currently working in below. You can jump straight to a given state by clicking its name.
Alabama
Legislative session: February 4 – May 19, 2025
This session, FAMM worked alongside state partners to oppose legislation that would establish new mandatory minimums and “truth in sentencing” policies. After the legislature adjourned, FAMM submitted testimony urging the state to reform its parole system by adopting a more holistic approach, rather than relying solely on a restrictive scoring system that limits parole opportunities. Our advocacy also extended to the Joint Legislative Prison Committee, where we submitted testimony in support of establishing independent prison oversight. We plan to continue advocating for independent oversight in the next legislative session and encourage our members to submit written testimony on prison conditions, the need for oversight, or other relevant topics. If you would like to submit a letter to the Committee, please address mail to: Alabama Joint Legislative Prison Committee, 11 South Union Street, Montgomery, AL 36130.
Arizona
Legislative session: January 13 – May 23, 2025
FAMM worked closely with local advocates, state partners, and lawmakers to pass two important pieces of legislation this year. We plan to build on these successes in 2026. Our top priorities for the upcoming legislative session include securing funding for the newly established Independent Prison Ombuds Office and making the elimination of the crack/powder cocaine sentencing disparity retroactive. FAMM will also continue advocating for second chance policies such as home confinement, compassionate release, and second look resentencing. These strides toward a more fair and effective justice system would not be possible without the support of our FAMMily members.
California
Legislative session: December 2 – September 12, 2025
FAMM is proud to celebrate the passage of AB 812, a bill that creates a second look resentencing opportunity for incarcerated firefighters. We hope this legislative victory will have a ripple effect throughout the justice system and inspire lawmakers to consider the many others who would benefit from a second chance. In the same vein, FAMM continues to work with state partners on SB 672, which would establish second look review for individuals serving life sentences for crimes committed before the age of 26.
Florida
Legislative session: March 4 – May 2, 2025
Delegation Meetings and Pre-Session Committee Weeks are right around the corner in Tallahassee. These events offer powerful opportunities to shape policies on prison conditions and sentencing reform—especially because they allow everyday people, not just organizations, to speak directly with lawmakers. During Pre-Session Committee Weeks, advocates can hear from the Department of Corrections, meet one-on-one with legislators, give public testimony at hearings, and build the relationships needed to drive lasting change.
FAMM’s state partner on the ground, Florida Cares, is calling on advocates to join them on Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout the Pre-Session Committee Weeks in October and November. To encourage participation, Florida Cares is offering reimbursement for in-state gas mileage, overnight accommodations, meals, help preparing personal stories, and guidance from experienced advocates. These combined efforts help keep sentencing and prison reform front and center in Florida’s legislative agenda.
Illinois
Upcoming veto session: October 14 – 30, 2025
FAMM members in Illinois are wrapping up training and preparing to head to Springfield on October 15 for a lobby day! While at the Capitol, we’ll be advocating for Credit for Change, legislation that would shorten the sentences of many of our loved ones by allowing them to earn time off their sentences for good behavior and participation in programming.
We’re also working hard to fight the Illinois Department of Corrections’ (IDOC) new “emergency rule,” which mandates that all physical mail sent to people in custody be scanned and delivered digitally. This policy creates an unnecessary barrier between us and our loved ones on the inside, raises concerns about right’s violations, and can delay urgent communication about essential healthcare needs. Although the policy will stay in effect during the 150 days covered by the emergency rule, we are working to build opposition to prevent its permanent implementation. If we are successful, the practice of scanning mail will end on January 10, 2026.
Iowa
Legislative session: January 13 – May 9, 2025
FAMM is continuing our efforts to establish medical release in Iowa, the only state in the nation without any compassionate release mechanism. Earlier this year, HSB 314 was introduced. Although the bill did not receive a committee hearing due to circumstances beyond our control, its introduction strategically positions us to reintroduce it next session. We hope that this year’s progress will ease the bill’s path forward. Over the summer, FAMM met with lawmakers and government officials to build support for this important legislation. If you have a loved one dealing with medical issues inside, please write to us (Attention: Iowa) or have your loved one tell us about it here: https://famm.org/for-fammilies/#share-your-story.
Maryland
Legislative session: January 8 – April 7, 2025
Maryland’s legislative session ended with the passage of SB 181/HB 1123, which expands medical and geriatric parole opportunities, and HB 853, which creates second look opportunities for some individuals who were convicted before age 25 and who have served at least 20 years. These laws took effect on October 1, 2025, and FAMM is working with stakeholders to support their proper implementation and ensure they are effectively used to provide relief from excessive and unnecessary incarceration. FAMM is also excited to be launching a small clearinghouse to pair people who are sick and dying in custody with volunteer attorneys, volunteer doctors, and volunteer social workers to advocate for compassionate release under Maryland’s new law.
Michigan
Legislative session: January 8 – December 31, 2025
The Michigan Legislature is still in session. Although activity slowed over the summer, FAMM remained actively engaged. We opposed bills that would create new mandatory minimums (HB 4255, 4256, 4960, and 4961) and successfully helped defeat legislation that sought to overturn People v. Taylor, Czarnecki, and Poole—landmark Michigan Supreme Court decisions that struck down mandatory life without parole for 18- to 20-year-olds (HB 4506, 4507, and 4508).
This fall, FAMM will continue working with state partners to reform the state’s habitual sentencing enhancement laws and to eliminate medical co-pays for incarcerated individuals (SB 318).
Missouri
Legislative session: January 8 – May 30, 2025
In early September, FAMM traveled to the Show Me state to meet with stakeholders and lay the groundwork for the upcoming legislative session. We are working with state partners, lawmakers, and the Sentencing Advisory Commission to craft Earned and Good Time Credit legislation. These bills would create an opportunity for people who are incarcerated to earn parole eligibility through time served and participation in approved programming. We are also preparing to advocate for the passage of independent prison oversight legislation next session.
New Jersey
Legislative session: January 14 – December 31, 2025
New Jersey’s General Assembly is still in session until December 31, but activity has slowed as election season approaches. FAMM is especially excited about Governor Murphy’s clemency initiative, which created expanded categorical opportunities for pardons and commutations in New Jersey. We applaud this critical work around clemency and encourage Governor Murphy to grant clemency to as many worthy individuals as possible before leaving office.
FAMM continues to work with New Jersey stakeholders to advance a “rehabilitative release” bill, a second look sentencing reform that would allow incarcerated people who have served a significant portion of their sentence to seek relief from continued incarceration. We also support legislative efforts to eliminate mandatory minimum sentences for certain drug-related offenses and to allow mitigating opportunities for survivors of abuse who offend against their abusers. All these efforts were recommended by New Jersey’s Criminal Sentencing and Disposition Commission.
Nevada
Legislative session: February 2 – July 28, 2025
FAMM continues to advocate for second look resentencing opportunities in Nevada. This year, Assembly Bill (AB) 91 was introduced, a bill to allow individuals incarcerated in the Nevada Department of Corrections to seek a sentence review after serving 10 years. While the bill did not pass before the legislative session ended, we remain committed to advancing second chances when the legislature reconvenes in 2027. In the meantime, FAMM is working with state partners to educate lawmakers and grow our network of advocates.
Pennsylvania
Legislative session: January 7 – November 14, 2025 (two-year session resumes in 2026)
Pennsylvania’s General Assembly is still in session but has yet to pass the state budget that was due on June 30, 2025. Ongoing budget negotiations have stalled progress on many of the bills FAMM supports, though we hope to regain the legislature’s attention this fall.
In the meantime, FAMM is working diligently to gain House support for HB 150, which would expand access to medical release for incarcerated individuals with certain chronic or terminal medical conditions. Despite bipartisan support and sponsorship of the bill, HB 150 has not yet passed out of the House. We also support HB 1550, which would create access to age-based relief for incarcerated people over the age of 50 who have served half their minimum sentence or 25 years of incarceration, whichever is less. As we await a ruling from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in Commonwealth v. Lee—a case that could impact felony murder sentencing—FAMM supports SB 387 and HB 443, which would allow parole eligibility after 25 years for people convicted of felony murder.
FAMM is also proud to support HB 1506, which would make communications free for incarcerated individuals in Pennsylvania. Also of interest to FAMM are three House Resolutions that seek to improve conditions in Pennsylvania’s correctional facilities. HR 36 would commission a study on the quality of libraries in carceral facilities in Pennsylvania; HR 59 would designate November 1, 2025 as “State Correctional Institution Day” in Pennsylvania and encourage lawmakers to visit a state prison facility unannounced at least twice per year; and HR 189 would commission a study on the nutritional value of food served in Pennsylvania’s State Correctional Institutions, as well as the nutrition-related health of people living in these facilities. FAMM also continues to monitor and oppose legislation containing mandatory sentences in Pennsylvania.
Ask your State Representative to support HB 150, a bipartisan bill that would update and expand Pennsylvania's medical release process for incarcerated people who are chronically and terminally ill!
Tennessee
Legislative session: January 14 – April 30, 2025
FAMM continues to advocate for independent prison oversight in Tennessee. In collaboration with state partners, we are working to educate lawmakers and the Tennessee State Employee Association (TSEA) on the benefits of prison oversight, for both individuals in custody and correctional staff.
We are currently awaiting the results of the United States Department of Justice’s investigation of Trousdale Turner Correctional Center, an investigation FAMM called for. We hope the findings lead to meaningful changes at that facility and spark broader reforms across the state’s prison system.
Looking ahead, FAMM is committed to supporting any legislation that will improve Tennessee's sentencing laws or add opportunities for medical furloughs or geriatric parole. We will also defend against legislation that would do more harm to incarcerated people or impose rigid, nondiscretionary sentencing.
Texas
Legislative session: January 14 – June 2, 2025
FAMM worked alongside our state partners this session to advance several key bills, including second look, compassionate release, prison oversight, and parole reform. Our largest effort centered on the "Sunset Review" of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, which resulted in some reforms to compassionate release. FAMM will continue to engage with the Board, offering recommendations and best practices we hope they will adopt. We encourage our Texas FAMMily members to keep an eye out for the public comment period where you can also make your voices heard. If you haven't already, please consider signing up for our emails and joining our Facebook group so you won't miss any announcements or updates.
Virginia
Legislative session: January 8 – February 22, 2025
Earlier this year, Governor Youngkin signed HB 1955 and SB 888 into law, eliminating the sentencing disparity between the crack and powder forms of cocaine. The two bills passed out of the legislature with unanimous votes along every stop of the legislative process. FAMM plans to advocate for more positive reforms in the Commonwealth during the 2026 “long session”.
Washington
Legislative session: January 13 – April 28, 2025
During the 2025 session, FAMM worked on legislation to make retroactive a 2023 reform that eliminated the use of juvenile adjudications to automatically enhance a person's sentence in the adult justice system. We also supported a bill that would give people convicted of an offense before their 21st birthday an opportunity for release after 15, 20, or 25 years, depending on their underlying offense. Although neither bill passed during the first year of Washington's two-year session, both advanced through the House Community Safety Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee, positioning them for a floor vote when the legislature reconvenes next session.
Don't See Your State?
We are working across the U.S. Email us at famm@famm.org to see what we're working on in your state.