SB-498
Social Services

County detention: commissary.

Introduced
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Requires county jails to provide free hygiene products to inmates with less than $25 in their accounts.
  • Prohibits denying hygiene products as punishment or using them as rewards in detention facilities.
  • Mandates the discharge of all existing hygiene product debt accrued before January 2026.
  • Guarantees access to basic items like soap, toothpaste, and menstrual products upon request.

Summary

Senator Becker's legislation mandates free hygiene products for indigent individuals in California county jails and juvenile facilities, while prohibiting facilities from using these items as disciplinary tools or allowing debt to accumulate for their provision.

The bill establishes specific criteria for identifying eligible recipients, defining an indigent status as having $25 or less in a facility trust account over seven days. Covered hygiene items include soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, menstrual products, deodorant, lotion, disinfectant wipes, and single-bladed razors. The measure requires facilities to provide these items upon request and prohibits denying access as punishment or using them as behavioral incentives.

Under the legislation, county detention facilities must discharge any existing hygiene product debt, including associated fees and interest, accrued prior to January 1, 2026. The bill creates parallel requirements for both adult and juvenile facilities through additions to the Penal Code and Welfare and Institutions Code. Local agencies may receive state reimbursement for costs associated with implementing these changes, subject to review by the Commission on State Mandates.

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Senate Committee
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Public Safety Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Public Safety Hearing
Senate Public Safety Hearing
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
Senate Floor
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Josh BeckerD
Senator
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 8 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 2
Select All Legislators
Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Josh BeckerD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Aisha WahabD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Christopher CabaldonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Laura RichardsonD
Senator
Committee Member

Get Involved

Act Now!

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

Introduced By

Josh Becker
Josh BeckerD
California State Senator
10% progression
Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/19/2025)

Latest Voting History

April 7, 2025
PASS
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
7007PASS

Key Takeaways

  • Requires county jails to provide free hygiene products to inmates with less than $25 in their accounts.
  • Prohibits denying hygiene products as punishment or using them as rewards in detention facilities.
  • Mandates the discharge of all existing hygiene product debt accrued before January 2026.
  • Guarantees access to basic items like soap, toothpaste, and menstrual products upon request.

Get Involved

Act Now!

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

Introduced By

Josh Becker
Josh BeckerD
California State Senator

Summary

Senator Becker's legislation mandates free hygiene products for indigent individuals in California county jails and juvenile facilities, while prohibiting facilities from using these items as disciplinary tools or allowing debt to accumulate for their provision.

The bill establishes specific criteria for identifying eligible recipients, defining an indigent status as having $25 or less in a facility trust account over seven days. Covered hygiene items include soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, menstrual products, deodorant, lotion, disinfectant wipes, and single-bladed razors. The measure requires facilities to provide these items upon request and prohibits denying access as punishment or using them as behavioral incentives.

Under the legislation, county detention facilities must discharge any existing hygiene product debt, including associated fees and interest, accrued prior to January 1, 2026. The bill creates parallel requirements for both adult and juvenile facilities through additions to the Penal Code and Welfare and Institutions Code. Local agencies may receive state reimbursement for costs associated with implementing these changes, subject to review by the Commission on State Mandates.

10% progression
Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/19/2025)

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Senate Committee
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Public Safety Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Public Safety Hearing
Senate Public Safety Hearing
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
Senate Floor
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Latest Voting History

April 7, 2025
PASS
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
7007PASS

Contacts

Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Josh BeckerD
Senator
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 8 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 2
Select All Legislators
Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Josh BeckerD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Aisha WahabD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Christopher CabaldonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Laura RichardsonD
Senator
Committee Member