HB4235 - 104th General Assembly (2025-2026)

CD CORR-COMMITTED PERSON MAIL
Last Action
3/27/2026 - House: Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
Statutes Amended In Order of Appearance
730 ILCS 5/3-7-10 new  
Synopsis As Introduced
Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall ensure that a committed person and the committed person's correspondents are not charged any fee, surcharge, or cost for mail communication or mail scanning services that exceed the standard postage rate set by the United States Postal Service. Provides that the Department shall not charge the committed person or correspondent any fee, surcharge, or cost for any incoming mail addressed to and received by the committed person, including any material received through mail scanning services. Provides that the Department shall not charge the committed person any fee, surcharge, or cost for outgoing mail delivery or mail scanning services that exceeds the postage rate set by the United States Postal Service for any outgoing mail. Provides that the Department or any third-party vendor that the Department contracts with, shall not impose any fee, surcharge, or cost to the committed person above the United States Postal Service rate for mail communication, including the delivery or scanning of mail. Provides that the Department shall not use the provision of voice communication services, mail communication, mail scanning services, or any other communication services to supplant in-person contact visits. Provides that the Department shall not receive revenue, directly or indirectly, from the provision of voice communications, mail communication, mail scanning services, or other communication services to a person in custody in any institutions and facilities of the Department. Provides that beginning July 1, 2027, the Department shall annually report to the General Assembly on the status of any communication services contracts and plans to consolidate contracts to maximize purchasing power for voice communication services, mail communication services, and all other communication services. Provides that the Department shall post the report on its website. Effective immediately.

House Committee Amendment No. 2
Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill, except (1) in the definition of "mail communication", deletes "or other commercial shipping services"; (2) provides that the Department of Corrections or any third-party vendor that the Department contracts with, shall not impose any fee, surcharge, or cost to the committed person above the applicable commercial shipping service rate when a commercial shipping service is utilized for correspondence, including the delivery or scanning of mail; (3) provides that notwithstanding the provisions of the Code concerning the costs of goods purchased by committed persons at correctional facility commissaries, postage stamps and essential mailing supplies, including envelopes, shall not be subject to the commissary markup authorized under that provision and shall be made available at no more than the Department's actual acquisition cost, rounded to the nearest cent; (4) provides that the Department of Corrections' annual report to the General Assembly shall include the rates the agency is paying or charging committed persons or community members for any and all services in the contracts; and Department spending on a third-party vendor or vendors for voice communication services, mail communication, mail scanning services, or any other communication services; and (5) makes technical changes to the bill. Effective immediately.
Actions
DateChamberAction
12/16/2025HouseFiled with the Clerk by Rep. Rita Mayfield
1/14/2026HouseFirst Reading
1/14/2026HouseReferred to Rules Committee
2/11/2026HouseAssigned to Judiciary - Criminal Committee
2/18/2026HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Barbara Hernandez
2/26/2026HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Suzanne M. Ness
2/26/2026HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Maura Hirschauer
2/26/2026HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Laura Faver Dias
2/26/2026HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid
2/26/2026HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Daniel Didech
2/27/2026HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Will Guzzardi
3/11/2026HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy
3/11/2026HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Rita Mayfield
3/11/2026HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
3/18/2026HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Judiciary - Criminal Committee
3/20/2026HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion Filed to Table Rep. Rita Mayfield
3/24/2026HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 2 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Rita Mayfield
3/24/2026HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 2 Referred to Rules Committee
3/26/2026HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 2 Rules Refers to Judiciary - Criminal Committee
3/26/2026HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 2 Adopted in Judiciary - Criminal Committee; by Voice Vote
3/26/2026HouseDo Pass as Amended / Short Debate Judiciary - Criminal Committee; 015-000-000
3/26/2026HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Tabled
3/27/2026HousePlaced on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate