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Alaska2026Passed Legislature

HB35

Rules for Prisoner Electronics and ID Cards

Last scannedSep 20, 2026, 12:32 AM

In one sentence

This law updates rules about what electronic devices prisoners can use, limits how technology replaces in-person services, and sets requirements for identification cards issued to prisoners before release.

What it does

  • Allows the commissioner to approve computers or tablets only for specific purposes like education, legal research, health care, reentry plans, employment training, visitation, or other approved uses.
  • Requires that any computer or tablet use must be approved by the correctional facility and cannot replace in-person visitation.
  • Prohibits prisoners from possessing items such as free weights, coffee pots, hot plates, food preparation appliances, or more than three electrical appliances in their cells.
  • Mandates that identification cards issued to prisoners before release look similar to driver's licenses but must state they are for ID purposes only and cannot be used to buy alcohol.
  • Requires the department to include security features on prisoner ID cards to prevent tampering or counterfeiting.

Who it affects

  • Prisoners held in state correctional facilities operated by Alaska
  • The commissioner of corrections and staff at state prisons
  • People who receive identification cards from the department before being released

Limits and unknowns

  • The law does not specify the exact date it takes effect beyond noting actions apply to services used on or after that future effective date.
  • The text lists general categories for approved tablet use but relies on regulations to define specific details of those programs.

Plain language

Terms to know

Commissioner
The official in charge of managing state correctional facilities.
Reentry plan
A written guide that helps a prisoner prepare to return to society after release.
Facsimile
An exact copy or image of something, such as a signature on an ID card.

Official record

Sources

Validated
Official bill pageIntroduced textCurrent bill text

Official summary

PRISONERS: ELECTRONIC DEVICES, ID CARDS An Act relating to the use and possession of electronic devices by prisoners; and relating to identification cards.

Official activity

Bill history

  1. (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW 11/5/251419
  2. (H) LAW W/O GOV SIGNATURE 8/7 CHAPTER 25 SLA 251419
  3. (H) 9:05 A.M. 7/15/25 TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR1368
  4. (H) CONCUR AM OF (S) Y28 N121348
  5. (H) TITLE CHANGE: SCR 81348
  6. (H) CONCUR MESSAGE RECEIVED AND TAKEN UP1347
  7. (S) VERSION: SCS CSHB 35(JUD)1379
  8. (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) AS AMENDED1379
  9. (S) PASSED Y20 N-1370
  10. (S) READ THE THIRD TIME SCS CSHB 35(JUD)1370
  11. (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 5/20 CAL1345
  12. (S) JUD SCS ADOPTED UC1345
  13. (S) READ THE SECOND TIME1345
  14. (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/19/20251345
  15. (S) FN1: ZERO(COR)1300
  16. (S) NR: TOBIN1300
  17. (S) DP: CLAMAN, MYERS, KIEHL1300
  18. (S) TITLE CHANGE: SCR 81300
  19. (S) JUD RPT SCS(JUD) 3DP 1NR NEW TITLE1300
  20. (S) Minutes (SJUD)Min

Changes

Amendments

4 stored

AM 1

AM NO 1 FAILED Y18 N21 E1 965

AM 2

AM NO 2 FAILED Y18 N21 E1 965

AM 3

AM NO 3 OFFERED AND WITHDRAWN 966

AM 4

AM NO 4 FAILED Y11 N28 E1 967