AB-800
Health & Public Health

State prisons: food.

Introduced
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Requires prison vending machine food prices to match average retail prices in the surrounding community.
  • Mandates consideration of obesity research when selecting prison food offerings.
  • Promotes sourcing fresh and nutritious food items from local farmers for prison vending machines.

Summary

Assembly Member Ortega's prison food reform measure would establish new requirements for vending machine pricing and nutritional standards across California state correctional facilities. The legislation directs the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to align vending machine food prices with average retail costs in surrounding communities.

The bill creates a framework for improving food quality in state prisons through two main mechanisms. First, it requires the department to incorporate existing research on the relationship between junk food consumption and obesity when making decisions about prison food offerings. Second, it establishes guidelines promoting the availability of fresh, nutritious options in prison vending machines while encouraging procurement from local agricultural producers.

This measure would affect multiple stakeholders within the corrections system. The department would need to implement new pricing monitoring systems and develop relationships with local food suppliers. Vending machine operators would adjust their pricing structures to match community rates. Local farmers and food producers could gain new institutional customers through the bill's sourcing provisions.

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Assembly Public Safety Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Public Safety Hearing
Assembly Public Safety Hearing
Read first time. To print.
Assembly Floor
Read first time. To print.
Read first time. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 16 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 4
Select All Legislators
Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gregg HartD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Liz OrtegaD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Blanca PachecoD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gail PellerinD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Kate SanchezR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Tri TaR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jessica CalozaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mark GonzalezD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Heather HadwickR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jose SolacheD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Sade ElhawaryD
Assemblymember
Committee Member

Similar Past Legislation

Bill NumberTitleIntroduced DateStatusLink to Bill
AB-2959
Prisons: food.
February 2024
Failed
Showing 1 of 1 items
Page 1 of 1

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Liz Ortega
Liz OrtegaD
California State Assembly Member
10% progression
Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/18/2025)

Latest Voting History

March 25, 2025
PASS
Assembly Committee
Assembly Public Safety Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
6129PASS

Key Takeaways

  • Requires prison vending machine food prices to match average retail prices in the surrounding community.
  • Mandates consideration of obesity research when selecting prison food offerings.
  • Promotes sourcing fresh and nutritious food items from local farmers for prison vending machines.

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Liz Ortega
Liz OrtegaD
California State Assembly Member

Summary

Assembly Member Ortega's prison food reform measure would establish new requirements for vending machine pricing and nutritional standards across California state correctional facilities. The legislation directs the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to align vending machine food prices with average retail costs in surrounding communities.

The bill creates a framework for improving food quality in state prisons through two main mechanisms. First, it requires the department to incorporate existing research on the relationship between junk food consumption and obesity when making decisions about prison food offerings. Second, it establishes guidelines promoting the availability of fresh, nutritious options in prison vending machines while encouraging procurement from local agricultural producers.

This measure would affect multiple stakeholders within the corrections system. The department would need to implement new pricing monitoring systems and develop relationships with local food suppliers. Vending machine operators would adjust their pricing structures to match community rates. Local farmers and food producers could gain new institutional customers through the bill's sourcing provisions.

10% progression
Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/18/2025)

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Assembly Public Safety Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Public Safety Hearing
Assembly Public Safety Hearing
Read first time. To print.
Assembly Floor
Read first time. To print.
Read first time. To print.

Latest Voting History

March 25, 2025
PASS
Assembly Committee
Assembly Public Safety Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
6129PASS

Contacts

Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 16 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 4
Select All Legislators
Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gregg HartD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Liz OrtegaD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Blanca PachecoD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gail PellerinD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Kate SanchezR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Tri TaR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jessica CalozaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mark GonzalezD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Heather HadwickR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jose SolacheD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Sade ElhawaryD
Assemblymember
Committee Member

Similar Past Legislation

Bill NumberTitleIntroduced DateStatusLink to Bill
AB-2959
Prisons: food.
February 2024
Failed
Showing 1 of 1 items
Page 1 of 1