AVID Public Policy Work

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2026 Legislative Agenda

These issues have been identified by the AVID Program and the people with disabilities it serves for focus during the 2026 legislative session. This list is not exhaustive and may change as the session progresses. Issues are not listed in a particular order. Items listed under the Lead Agenda are initiatives AVID is leading or working with stakeholders to lead. Items listed under the Support Agenda are led by other partners, but AVID will provide support as partners and AVID deems necessary.

Lead Agenda

  1. Restrict and reform the use of solitary confinement (HB 1137)

Support Agenda

  1. Expand opportunities for release from prison and decrease sentence lengths
    • Allow people to seek resentencing after serving an extended period of time (HB 1125/SB 5269)
    • Allow sentence review for certain people who were under the age of 21 when their crime was committed (HB 1317)
    • Retroactively eliminate the use of juvenile felonies in the calculation of adult sentences (HB 1274)
    • Provide increased discretion for courts in stacking some sentence enhancements (HB 1178)
  2. Support civic engagement of people in carceral settings
    • Allow elected members of the legislature to enter the premises of a state facility to tour the facility or meet with a constituent (SB 5342)
    • Support civic engagement opportunities for incarcerated folks and people in state institutions (HB 1147)
  3. Improve oversight in carceral settings
    • Create a Jail Oversight Board within the Office of the Governor to monitor jails (SB 5005/HB 1424)
    • Provide parameters for conducting searches of transgender and intersex individuals confined in a local jail in compliance with federal law (SB 5490)