This year, Governor Kevin Stitt signed three Justice Action Network-backed criminal justice reform bills into law that deliver transformative progress for hundreds of thousands of Oklahomans. Together, these laws will expand access to second chances, improve hearings regarding a defendant’s ability to pay fines and fees, and shine a light on the use of incarceration for unpaid court debt, laying the groundwork for even smarter reforms ahead.

This year, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs signed four major Justice Action Network-supported bills into law! Together, these laws will shine a light on the use of incarceration for unpaid court debt, strengthen probation, eliminate some burdensome court fees, and expand treatment options for justice-involved veterans.

Every year, after state legislative sessions have adjourned and governors have acted on the bills that have crossed their desks, the JAN team conducts an internal debrief built around one question: Were we successful this year? It’s a straightforward question, but one with a surprisingly complex answer.

No two legislative sessions ever feel the same, each one feels uniquely challenging.