Assembly BillFailedPenal
AB 1144: Prisons: elderly employment.
What AB 1144 does, verified February 3, 2026
This bill would allow inmates 55 years of age or older, or those with mental or physical disabilities, to choose whether to continue working, reduce their work hours, or retire from their prison jobs. The California Constitution prohibits involuntary servitude, but allows for punishment as a crime. Currently, all able-bodied inmates, including those on death row, are required to work 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. The bill would grant these inmates the right to opt out of work and instead focus on rehabilitation or retirement.
Bill journey
✓IntroducedComplete
2In CommitteeCurrent
3First Chamber FloorPending
4Second ChamberPending
5GovernorPending
6ChapteredPending
Last action: From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. (2026-02-02)Alert me
Author and sponsors
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| Feb. 02, 2026 | From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. |
| Jan. 31, 2026 | Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution. |
| May. 23, 2025 | In committee: Held under submission. |
| Apr. 30, 2025 | In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file. |
| Apr. 21, 2025 | Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |