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
End Endless Probation for Youth 2.0 (AB 1886, Asm. Elhawary)
AB 1886 would change California law so that all youth on non-custodial probation (out of custody) get the same protections created by AB 1376 (Bonta, 2025)—no matter what placement they’re in. Right now, some youth benefit from clear probation timelines and regular court check-ins, while youth in out-of-home placements don’t. AB 1886 bill fixes that inequity.
- Status: Passed through the Assembly. AB 1886 will be heard in the Senate in the coming weeks.
Protect Access to Lifesaving Care (AB 2318, Asm. Elhawary)
AB 2318 ensures that Californians under law enforcement control are not denied or delayed from receiving timely medical evaluation and treatment when emergency care is needed, when it is safe and reasonable to provide access, and when a medical professional is present or has been requested. Recent tragedies in California, including incidents involving ICE, have raised serious concerns about emergency medical personnel’s ability to provide care to people under law enforcement control.
- Status: Passed through the Assembly. AB 2318 will be heard in the Senate in the coming weeks.
Justice for Survivors of Sexual Assault in Prison (AB 464, Asm. Aguiar Curry)
AB 464 protects incarcerated survivors of sexual assault who report staff misconduct from retaliation and ensures increased monitoring for retaliation following a report of staff sexual misconduct. Additionally, it would prevent staff confirmed to have committed sexual abuse from being re-employed by the CDCR, while mandating access for survivors to community support. Lastly, the bill clarifies the Civil Code by providing that the period for bringing an action against a public employee or entity that occurred while the person was incarcerated shall be tolled during the period of incarceration.
- Status: Passed through the Assembly. AB 464 is moving through the Senate committee process.
Increased Protections Against Sexual Assault (SA) in California Prisons (SB 337, Sen. Menjivar)
SB 337 focuses on preventive measures to address SA in CDCR facilities, including implementing zero-tolerance policies for staff, clarifying when body-worn cameras may be deactivated, increasing documentation requirements during non-routine body searches and medical visits, and other critical provisions. This legislation would provide much-needed protections for people incarcerated in CDCR facilities.
- Status: Two-year bill. Will be heard in the Assembly in August.
California Alliance for Parole Reform Coalition
The Ella Baker Center remains a committed member of the California Alliance for Parole Reform (CAPR). This year, the coalition is focusing on defensive efforts to preserve existing pathways of freedom, prevent exclusions, and limit the formation of additional barriers to parole access.
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!
- Status: AB 1958 bill did not pass the Assembly floor. EBC remains committed to RJA advocacy efforts and will continue implementation work.
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!
- Status: Due to opposition, the author decided to pause the bill in 2026 to allow for continued conversations and stakeholder engagement. The author and EBC remain committed to addressing the issue in 2027.
Stay tuned for other exciting updates!
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.