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SB-311 • 2026

Correctional facilities: women’s prisons.

Correctional facilities: women’s prisons.

Crime Housing
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Grove
Last action
2026-02-02
Official status
Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not specify which exact sexual offenses would prevent inmates from being housed in women’s prisons, leaving this detail uncertain.

Women's Prisons: Safety and Housing

The bill requires California prisons for women to create secure housing areas for transgender women and bans certain sex offenders from being housed in these prisons.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to establish a secure facility at each women's prison to house transgender women, as specified.
  • Prohibits inmates who have been convicted of specific sexual offenses from staying in women’s prisons.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
  • Women's prisons in California, including the California Institution for Women and the Central California Women’s Facility

Terms To Know

Transgender women
People who were assigned male at birth but identify as female.
Sexual offenses
Crimes involving sexual abuse or assault.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify which exact sexual offenses would prevent inmates from being housed in women’s prisons.
  • It is unclear how the secure housing areas for transgender women will be designed and managed.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-02 California Legislative Information

    Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

  2. 2025-04-29 California Legislative Information

    April 29 set for first hearing. Failed passage in committee. (Ayes 1. Noes 4. Page 944.) Reconsideration granted.

  3. 2025-04-11 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing April 29.

  4. 2025-04-02 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.

  5. 2025-03-26 California Legislative Information

    From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.

  6. 2025-02-19 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on RLS.

  7. 2025-02-11 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 13.

  8. 2025-02-10 California Legislative Information

    Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 311, as amended, Grove.
Correctional facilities:
sexual violence.
women’s prisons.
Existing law requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to institute certain practices to prevent sexual violence and promote inmate and ward safety in the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, including reviewing and providing handbooks regarding sexual abuse in detention to inmates and wards.
Existing law establishes 2 institutions for the punishment, treatment, supervision, custody, and care of women convicted of felonies, known as the California Institution for Women and the Central California Women’s Facility.
This bill would require the department to establish a secure facility at each women’s prison to house transgender women,
in order to protect the security needs of biological women, as specified. The bill would also prohibit certain inmates convicted of specified sexual offenses from being housed at a women’s prison.
This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to address sexual violence in women’s correctional facilities.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF