Committee advances bill to ensure educational materials and training for incarcerated people in restrictive housing

House Bill 457, carried by Representative Marcel (presented in committee by Senator Duplessis), was reported as amended by the Senate Judiciary B Committee.

The measure would require that individuals placed in solitary confinement or restrictive housing retain access to educational materials and receive training resources so they can continue coursework while housed in those units. Sponsor testimony and supporters emphasized that denying access to materials undermines rehabilitation and reentry; Operation Restoration and a longtime prison educator described instances where incarcerated students were cut off from coursework while in restrictive housing and urged the committee to support the bill.

Committee staff circulated and the committee adopted technical amendments (sets 26‑72) that added clarifying language to ensure materials accompany training and correct minor typographical errors. Supporters said the amendments were technical and the bill’s purpose remains to protect education continuity for incarcerated students.

Senator Duplessis moved to report House Bill 457 as amended; with no objection, the committee reported the bill favorably. Witnesses included representatives of Operation Restoration and other nonprofit reentry and prison‑education groups who described programs that provide higher‑education coursework in corrections settings and said continuity of access supports rehabilitation.

The committee’s action sends the measure to the Senate floor with committee amendments.