SB 159 CO

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Became Law

An inmate who is serving a sentence to the department of corrections (DOC) for certain lower level criminal offenses, has not incurred a penal discipline violation within a specified time period, and is program compliant is currently eligible to earn 12 days of earned time per month. The act increases eligibility to 14 days per month.     An inmate who is serving a sentence for, or who has been previously convicted of, certain higher level criminal offenses, including a felony offense listed in the 'Victim Rights Act', is currently eligible to earn 10 days of earned time per month. The act increases eligibility to 12 days per month.     An inmate who completes a milestone or phase of a behavioral health program in an area related to recovery from a condition that contributed to the inmate's underlying offense may be awarded up to 150 days of earned time.     The DOC is directed to enact policy changes to incentivize inmates to pursue activities that award earned time.     The act creates a working group to make recommendations for a capacity management plan (plan) for the DOC with input from impacted groups. The plan must be informed by strategies to assess prison programming and clinical care, inmate release processes, services for successful release outcomes, prison population management, and prison capacity changes. Members of the house of representatives judiciary committee, the senate judiciary committee, and the joint budget committee may submit in writing to the chair of the working group a request to prioritize specific issues or provide other relevant information. The working group shall submit an interim and a final report to the general assembly, the DOC's certified employee organization, and the governor's office.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

• J. Gonzales Democratic · sponsor
• M. Weissman Democratic · sponsor
• J. Mabrey Democratic · sponsor
• M. Martinez Democratic · sponsor

1. May 19, 2026 Governor Signed · executive
2. May 5, 2026 Sent to the Governor · executive
3. May 5, 2026 Signed by the Speaker of the House · lower
4. May 4, 2026 Signed by the President of the Senate · upper
5. Apr 30, 2026 House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments · lower
6. Apr 29, 2026 House Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments · lower
7. Apr 28, 2026 House Committee on Judiciary Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole · lower
8. Apr 20, 2026 Introduced In House - Assigned to Judiciary · lower
9. Apr 20, 2026 Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments · upper
10. Apr 17, 2026 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor · upper
11. Apr 16, 2026 Senate Second Reading Laid Over to 04/17/2026 - No Amendments · upper
12. Apr 13, 2026 Senate Committee on Judiciary Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole · upper
13. Apr 9, 2026 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Judiciary · upper