A 3368 New Jersey General Assembly · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Requires State and private correctional facilities to allow inmates to make telephone and video calls at no cost to inmate or other party.

This bill requires New Jersey's State and private correctional facilities to allow inmates to make telephone and video calls at no cost to either the inmate or the recipient. It amends existing law to eliminate all charges, including per-minute fees, surcharges, or account maintenance costs, while still requiring facilities to contract with phone service providers following state procurement rules. The bill specifically prohibits facilities from accepting commissions or imposing additional fees beyond the provider's base rate, ensuring calls remain free for both parties. It applies to all State and private facilities (county facilities are addressed separately in the current law) and includes provisions for international calls at no charge for inmates in these facilities. The policy change directly affects incarcerated individuals and their families by removing financial barriers to communication.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action Jan 13, 2026
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Jan 13, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee
lower
2 primary · 3 co-sponsors

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