With most of our priority state legislative sessions having ended, now is a great time to reflect on the progress made this year.

We will be providing a broader read-out from all of our priority states in a future newsletter, but for now, we are celebrating the exciting victories coming out of Oklahoma and also highlighting our ongoing efforts to secure funding for Arizona's Independent Correctional Oversight Office.

April is Second Chance Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about both the opportunities and barriers for justice-involved people to obtain a true second chance.

As Second Chance Month comes to a close, we've been reflecting on the policies that have delivered transformative results and helped clear unnecessary obstacles to success for those with past justice-system involvement, opening up doors to new possibilities and looking forward as we continue that work all year long.

It’s been a month since our last update on the momentum building for criminal justice reform legislation across our priority states, and the pace is intensifying. As our work progresses, we want to share an inside look into what is really happening inside these statehouses, including the negotiations, the compromises, the breakthroughs, and the ongoing challenges. 

Most importantly, we want to share some exciting milestones a few of our top priority bills have reached: passing their first chamber (the House or Senate).

Legislative sessions are now in full swing in three of our priority states: Arizona, Minnesota, and Oklahoma. In New Mexico, the legislature has already concluded its fast-paced 30-day session.

Across these states, the legislation we’re supporting is gaining traction, sparking robust discussions, and opening pathways for change.

None of this progress happens without strong leadership. The legislative sponsors championing these bills have been extraordinary partners, and their commitment, persistence, and willingness to push these efforts forward are what turn good ideas into lasting impact. We are grateful for the work they are doing to move these bills across the finish line and to improve the lives of individuals and communities across their states.

Below, you’ll find a snapshot of where things stand in each state and why we're genuinely optimistic that this could be a big year for reform.

With state legislative sessions officially underway or kicking off soon, we are excited to share the bold state-level reforms we are working to advance in 2026. We are focused on key states where our legislative champions are fired up and where meaningful change is within reach.

Alongside our strong legislative leaders and coalition of advocacy groups, impacted individuals, employers, business groups, and stakeholders, we are optimistic that these efforts will result in laws signed with an immediate impact.

This year, JAN + JANF focused our resources in states where we have the strongest relationships and where we believe have the biggest opportunities for reform in 2025: Arizona, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.

We’re thrilled to report that our focused advocacy approach paid off: NINE JAN-supported bills were signed into law!

This month we’re recognizing the critical role employment plays in empowering individuals on their path to success, and building economically resilient communities. At JAN + JANF, we believe robust workforce development must include everyone, including people who are ready to earn their second chance.

Yesterday, Governor Kevin Stitt and Oklahoma reaffirmed the state’s role as a national leader in modernizing its justice system with the ceremonial signing of House Bills 1460 and 1462. This marks the continuation of building a smarter justice system that prioritizes real accountability, smarter re-entry, and justice for everyone.

Minnesota took a nation-leading step in ending the practice of towing vehicles for unpaid parking tickets when Governor Walz signed the state’s annual transportation omnibus bill, House File 3436, into law Wednesday morning. Under previous Minnesota state law, towing a vehicle from an expired meter was explicitly prohibited with the exception of vehicles associated with five or more unpaid parking tickets. Originally filed under House File 4762 and Senate File 4926, but later included in the annual omnibus, the measured signed into law today removes that exception.

Sponsored by Representative Tara Simmons (D-Bremerton) and championed by a broad coalition of community organizations, the bill acknowledges that financial obligations disproportionately burden low-income individuals and contribute to a cycle of poverty and recidivism that is detrimental to those individuals and to the safety of Washington communities.