Based in Oakland, CA, the Ella Baker Center advances racial and economic justice to ensure dignity and opportunity for low income people and people of color. We are grateful for the incredible work put in by people who are currently and formerly incarcerated, loved ones, and our allies who are impacted by these policies.
2025 – 2026 Co-Sponsored Bills
At EBC, we are driven by our vision for Truth and Reinvestment: acknowledging how “tough on crime” laws, segregation, disenfranchisement, and racial profiling have harmed Black and Brown communities, and advancing policies that reinvest in the resources our communities need to thrive. Our strength lies in our community and people power – people like you, who care and are willing to move our work forward. Our policy strategies are informed by directly impacted folks in order to make necessary and effective change.
2026 Bills and Priorities
Racial Justice Act 6.0 (AB 1958, Asm. Kalra)
The work continues! Last year, we successfully passed AB 1071 (Kalra); this year, we are introducing new legislation to improve the Racial Justice Act’s use. The new legislation is focused on bringing essential technical fixes to ensure equitable access for those seeking relief from bias and discrimination based on race, ethnicity, or national origin. Improving standards and clarifying ambiguities will create meaningful opportunities for our community to have their claims heard while dually supporting court efficiency!
Ending Shackling for Medically Vulnerable Populations (AB 1922, Asm. Lowenthal)
We are advocating to end the medical shackling of incarcerated patients, in both county jails and prisons, during outside medical stays, including hospitals. This legislation would align California safety practices with medical ethics by prohibiting the use of shackles, leg irons, waist chains, or handcuffs upon hospital admission for incarcerated patients. Our community deserves humanity!
Elder Parole Reform (AB 2434, Asm. Bonta)
Despite several reforms that have made thousands more people parole board-eligible over the past 17 years, California’s parole board process remains a release path that is more symbolic than substantive. This year, we are focused on fighting for the release of our elders, many of whom have served decades in prison. We are committed to building pathways for release to successfully bring community members home.
Increased Protections Against Sexual Assault (SA) in California Prisons (SB 337, Sen. Menjivar)
Led by Sister Warriors Freedom Coalition and the California Coalition for Women Prisoners, EBC joins the SB 337 (Menjivar) Coalition, which focuses on strengthening protections against sexual assault within California’s prisons, including preventing the rehiring of correctional staff who have committed harm and increasing documentation requirements, among other key provisions.
2025 – 2026 Priority Opposition
Below are some of the harmful bills — among many others we are tracking — that EBC is fighting against to limit rollbacks of our past victories, increase opportunities for release and resentencing, and improve conditions inside. EBC remains committed to advocating against “tough-on-crime” legislation, as it harms our communities, deprives them of essential resources, and fails to address the root causes of these issues.
Please check back for updates soon.
2025 Bill Outcomes
AB 1071 (Kalra) – RJA Follow Up – Signed into law!
The California Racial Justice Act(RJA) prohibits the state from seeking, obtaining, or imposing a criminal conviction or sentence on the basis of race, ethnicity, or national origin. While the intent of the RJA is clear, courts have struggled with how to properly resolve violations of the Act. This bill provides clarity and a more efficient process for determining if a violation has occurred. This bill also helps guarantee that those who may have suffered a violation are afforded an attorney and an opportunity to obtain the information necessary to file an RJA challenge. These procedural clarifications are vital to ensure that all individuals with viable claims have equitable access to justice to address the racism or discrimination that they have experienced.
We are proud to report that Governor Newsom has SIGNED this bill into law!
A huge shoutout to Assemblymember Ash Kalra for championing this bill, as well as our co-sponsors, which include the American Friends Service Committee, California Coalition for Women Prisoners, California Public Defenders Association, Californians United for a Responsible Budget, Initiate Justice, League of Women Voters, Silicon Valley DeBug, and the USF Racial Justice Clinic.
AB 622 (Kalra) – Rehabilitation Recognition Act
We sponsored AB 622 in response to litigation that is causing delays in the release of our friends and loved ones who the Board of Parole Hearings has deemed suitable for release. This legislation aimed to encourage rehabilitation within California prisons, protect existing legal processes, prevent unnecessary delays in parole, and avoid the wasteful expenditure of millions of taxpayer dollars.
After a year of incredibly inspiring advocacy, we share that AB 622 will not move forward. We have been proud to advocate for this righteous effort. Assemblymember Kalra and his staff, the co-sponsoring organizations, and our broader community, both inside and outside of prison, advocated relentlessly to pass this bill. We knew that passing this bill would not be easy – from the powerful opposition by law enforcement to the way the media framed sentencing issues at the heart of our bill – this was an uphill battle from the very start. Despite this disappointing outcome, we believe the people affected by this litigation deserve to be free, and we will continue to advocate for that vision in different ways.
We are closely monitoring the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation (CJLF) v. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) case before the California Supreme Court, which addresses whether CDCR can apply Prop 57 credits to people with indeterminate sentences. In October 2025, the California Supreme Court granted CDCR’s petition for review in the case, and CDCR filed its brief to the Court in January. We are eagerly awaiting the outcome of the case and hope that the ruling will uphold principles of due process and voter-supported reform, providing a pathway home for our community members.
SB 498 (Becker) – Indigent Hygiene Access
across counties, this legislation sought to prevent the harmful consequences of hygiene debt and promote dignity and basic rights for those impacted by the justice system.Unfortunately, this bill will not move forward because it experienced intense opposition. We are proud of the work we did to promote it this year and are confident it will be a strong way to advance dignity and justice for incarcerated people. We hope to return to the issue of hygiene injustice in future years.
If you have any questions, please reach out to our Policy Team at policy@ellabakercenter.org.