SB 312 — Pardons and Paroles Board; allow inmates to participate in parole hearing virtually
Last action — Judiciary 1st Amendment (Judiciary)
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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3Passed Senate
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4Passed House
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5To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill died with 2024 Regular Session. It reached “Passed Senate” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.
Summary
Incarceration
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
49 added · 30 removedPlain-language change summary
The new version of Bill SB 312 allows inmates to attend their parole hearings virtually, a change from the previous law where they were not allowed to participate at all. Key updates include clarifying that inmates will not interact with victims or advocates during the hearings, ensuring a level of separation for safety and respect. This matters because it expands the rights of inmates by giving them a chance to present their case while still addressing concerns about the presence and safety of victims. The change makes the parole hearing process more accessible while maintaining necessary safeguards.
SB312 INTRODUCEDENGROSSED SB312 XJCREEE-1XJCREEE-2 By Senator Barfoot RFD:
09-Apr-24 Page 0 XJCREEE-1SB312 04/08/2024Engrossed CNB2 (L)bm4 2024-1430A 2BILL 4TO SYNOPSIS:BE ENTITLED AN ACT 9 Relating to pardons and paroles;
Under existing law, an inmate may not attend his or her parole hearing.
This bill would allow an inmate to virtually attend his or her parole hearing.
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT Relating to pardons and paroles;
(a) An inmate shall be allowed to participate in his or her parole hearing virtually by means of video conference or other similar communications equipment that allows allthe personinmate participatingto insee theand hearinghear tothe hearmembers andof seethe eachParole other.Board.
(b) IfThe theinmate electronicshall communicationsnot failbe orallowed areto insee, anyhear, wayor interruptedotherwise duringinteract awith hearing,victims, thevictims' hearingfamilies, shallor becrime suspendedvictim untiladvocates who address the electronicboard communicationor isattend reestablished.the hearing.
(c) AnIf inmatethe mayelectronic waivecommunications hisfail or herare rightin providedany inway subsectioninterrupted (a).during a hearing, the hearing shall be suspended until the electronic communication is reestablished.
(d) An inmate may waive his or her right provided in subsection (a).
This act shall become effective on October Page 1 SB312 INTRODUCED 1, 2024.
Page 1 SB312 Engrossed Senate Read for the first time and referred ................09-Apr-24 to the Senate committee on Judiciary Read for the second time and placed ................18-Apr-24 on the calendar:
0 amendments Read for the third time and passed ................25-Apr-24 as amended Yeas 31 Nays 0 Abstains 0 Patrick Harris, Secretary.
Amendments
3 amendments- Judiciary Amendment U1MRXGX-1 Show changes
- Judiciary Amendment FQUUCDD-1 Show changes
- Amendment 7ZFN2E2-1 Show changes
Click Show changes on an amendment above to see how it modifies the bill.
Action History
-
Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
Sponsors
- Will Barfoot · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 139 not signed on
Sponsors (1)
Co-sponsors (0)
None.
Not signed on (139)
139 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 139 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | 24 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| D | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Unaffiliated | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 31 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| % of votes cast | 89% | 0% | 0% | 11% |
How each member voted (35)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Greg J. Reed | — | Yea |
| Bobby D. Singleton | D | Yea |
| Kirk Hatcher | D | Yea |
| Linda Coleman-Madison | D | Yea |
| Merika Coleman | D | Not Voting |
| Robert Stewart | D | Yea |
| Rodger M. Smitherman | D | Yea |
| Vivian Davis Figures | D | Yea |
| William M. Beasley | D | Not Voting |
| Andrew Jones | R | Yea |
| April Weaver | R | Yea |
| Arthur Orr | R | Yea |
| Chris Elliott | R | Yea |
| Clyde Chambliss | R | Yea |
| Dan Roberts | R | Yea |
| David Sessions | R | Yea |
| Donnie Chesteen | R | Yea |
| Garlan Gudger | R | Not Voting |
| Gerald H. Allen | R | Yea |
| Greg Albritton | R | Yea |
| J. T. 'Jabo' Waggoner | R | Yea |
| Jack W. Williams | R | Yea |
| Jay Hovey | R | Yea |
| Josh Carnley | R | Not Voting |
| Keith Kelley | R | Yea |
| Lance Bell | R | Yea |
| Larry Stutts | R | Yea |
| Randy Price | R | Yea |
| Sam Givhan | R | Yea |
| Shay Shelnutt | R | Yea |
| Steve Livingston | R | Yea |
| Tim Melson | R | Yea |
| Tom Butler | R | Yea |
| Wes Kitchens | R | Yea |
| Will Barfoot | R | Yea |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | 24 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| D | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Unaffiliated | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 31 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| % of votes cast | 89% | 0% | 0% | 11% |
How each member voted (35)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Greg J. Reed | — | Yea |
| Bobby D. Singleton | D | Yea |
| Kirk Hatcher | D | Yea |
| Linda Coleman-Madison | D | Yea |
| Merika Coleman | D | Not Voting |
| Robert Stewart | D | Yea |
| Rodger M. Smitherman | D | Yea |
| Vivian Davis Figures | D | Yea |
| William M. Beasley | D | Not Voting |
| Andrew Jones | R | Yea |
| April Weaver | R | Yea |
| Arthur Orr | R | Yea |
| Chris Elliott | R | Yea |
| Clyde Chambliss | R | Yea |
| Dan Roberts | R | Yea |
| David Sessions | R | Yea |
| Donnie Chesteen | R | Yea |
| Garlan Gudger | R | Not Voting |
| Gerald H. Allen | R | Yea |
| Greg Albritton | R | Yea |
| J. T. 'Jabo' Waggoner | R | Yea |
| Jack W. Williams | R | Yea |
| Jay Hovey | R | Yea |
| Josh Carnley | R | Not Voting |
| Keith Kelley | R | Yea |
| Lance Bell | R | Yea |
| Larry Stutts | R | Yea |
| Randy Price | R | Yea |
| Sam Givhan | R | Yea |
| Shay Shelnutt | R | Yea |
| Steve Livingston | R | Yea |
| Tim Melson | R | Yea |
| Tom Butler | R | Yea |
| Wes Kitchens | R | Yea |
| Will Barfoot | R | Yea |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | 24 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| D | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Unaffiliated | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 31 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| % of votes cast | 89% | 0% | 0% | 11% |
How each member voted (35)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Greg J. Reed | — | Yea |
| Bobby D. Singleton | D | Yea |
| Kirk Hatcher | D | Yea |
| Linda Coleman-Madison | D | Yea |
| Merika Coleman | D | Not Voting |
| Robert Stewart | D | Yea |
| Rodger M. Smitherman | D | Yea |
| Vivian Davis Figures | D | Yea |
| William M. Beasley | D | Not Voting |
| Andrew Jones | R | Yea |
| April Weaver | R | Yea |
| Arthur Orr | R | Yea |
| Chris Elliott | R | Yea |
| Clyde Chambliss | R | Yea |
| Dan Roberts | R | Yea |
| David Sessions | R | Yea |
| Donnie Chesteen | R | Yea |
| Garlan Gudger | R | Not Voting |
| Gerald H. Allen | R | Yea |
| Greg Albritton | R | Yea |
| J. T. 'Jabo' Waggoner | R | Yea |
| Jack W. Williams | R | Yea |
| Jay Hovey | R | Yea |
| Josh Carnley | R | Not Voting |
| Keith Kelley | R | Yea |
| Lance Bell | R | Yea |
| Larry Stutts | R | Yea |
| Randy Price | R | Yea |
| Sam Givhan | R | Yea |
| Shay Shelnutt | R | Yea |
| Steve Livingston | R | Yea |
| Tim Melson | R | Yea |
| Tom Butler | R | Yea |
| Wes Kitchens | R | Yea |
| Will Barfoot | R | Yea |
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does SB 312 do?
- Incarceration
- Who sponsors SB 312?
- SB 312 is sponsored by Will Barfoot (R).
- What is the current status of SB 312?
- This bill died with 2024 Regular Session. It reached “Passed Senate” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
- Where can I track SB 312?
- Track SB 312 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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