Progress Around the Country: Celebrating Smart Policy Wins in Other State Legislatures
The 2026 Regular Legislative Session has drawn to a close. Valuable progress was made, particularly in the area of reentry, as a bipartisan consensus grows around efforts to connect those reentering society with the resources they need to find employment and stay out of prison. Other states joined in passing smart policies that are evidence-based and fiscally sound.
In Georgia, SB207 was signed into law in May and reforms the state’s occupational licensing laws to offer more opportunities for employment to those with a criminal record. Prior to SB207, individuals who had spent time in prison could be barred from obtaining the necessary license for jobs—even those that had nothing to do with the reasons for their incarceration. Part of SB207’s reform, modeled after other state laws like Louisiana’s passed a few years ago, is to require that officials prove the individual's past would actively disqualify them from getting the license and holding the job. Second chance hiring offers both immediate and long-term economic benefits. Labor shortages are filled with capable workers and businesses are strengthened when they are not strapped for employees. Long term, stable employment reduces the chances of recidivism, a major strain on a state’s corrections budget.
Tennessee also took steps to protect successful reentry in their most recent legislative session. HB1551/SB1479, a bill quite similar to Louisiana’s own HB167, helps people renew their driver’s license upon release from prison. Lack of essential documents and certifications, like a driver’s license, are one of the major road blocks to successful reentry and connecting with a job. The Tennessee legislation mandates coordination across agencies to ensure that certain inmates have a clear and accessible pathway to a driver’s license. Legislation like HB1551 has a clear ripple effect for both the newly released people and the corrections systems of the state. Beyond the license itself, the systems outlined in the bill necessitate organized and up-to-date data about the prison population and uniform data sharing practices between state offices. Tennessee adds its name to the growing list of states eliminating practical barriers to reentry.
Oklahoma continues to make progress on evaluating and eliminating fines and fees that do not further justice. Last year, HB1460 eliminated fees with disproportionately low collection rates. This year, HB3321 was signed into law and carries the momentum of last year’s victory. The bill emphasizes data collection as a means for lawmakers to evaluate the efficacy of practices surrounding fines and fees. Specifically, HB3321 requires reports on the number of and cost of arrests made because of overdue fines and fees. Highlighting the price tag of a practice, like arresting an individual due to overdue fines and fees, is often the best way to end the practice itself, and improving lawmakers’ access to data can empower the creation of more targeted policies. Louisiana’s own fines and fees system contains many idiosyncrasies and has resulted in an unstable funding system for our courts. Oklahoma’s continued progress on this matter is both inspiring and worth celebrating.
The success and ingenuity of legislation from other states can drive progress in our own. Though our 2027 regular legislative session is many months away, there is no shortage of ideas and approaches to begin considering on behalf of a safer Louisiana, with strengthened reentry pathways that reduce recidivism, promote public safety, and save taxpayer dollars.