10/19/2026
Clarity on AB 2434 & AB 1645 (HUGS ACT)
As many of you are aware, two important pieces of legislation were recently signed into law that will provide additional protections for incarcerated individuals and their loved ones during visits, effective January 1, 2027.
AB 2434 – Visitor Protections and Safety Act
AB 1645 – Humanizing and Uniting Generations Safely (HUGS) Act
These bills specifically address in-person visiting, with important protections for regular CONTACT VISITING, not overnight family visiting.
There has been some confusion regarding what these laws change, particularly concerning cell phones, disciplinary restrictions, and the reinstatement of family visits.
💡Understanding the Difference💡
Contact Visiting: Regular, in-person visits where incarcerated individuals and approved visitors may have appropriate physical contact.
Family Visiting: Extended or overnight visits in designated accommodations, subject to separate eligibility requirements and CDCR regulations.
These are two different visiting privileges.
What Do These Laws Change?
AB 2434 strengthens visitor protections by:
✔️Limiting the circumstances under which contact visits can be restricted.
✔️ Requiring opportunities to correct minor visiting issues.
✔️ Establishing stronger protections regarding visitor searches and denials.
✔️ Protecting qualifying long-distance visitors.
✔️ Requiring at least three days of in-person visiting weekly.
✔️ Requiring existing contact visiting restrictions to be reviewed at the next annual classification review.
AB 1645 (HUGS Act) protects appropriate, nonsexual physical contact, including holding hands, hugging, brief kisses, and interactions with children. Staff must provide a verbal warning and an opportunity to correct minor physical-contact violations before imposing discipline.
Why was this needed?
Some not all CDCR Visiting Room staff across facilities were imposing their own restrictions and families were being terminated for simply hugging throughout visit or touching their loved one’s face, having their arm on the back of their family/loved ones chair or even holding their children.
🛑Important Clarifications🛑
Cell phones remain prohibited. Neither law permits incarcerated individuals to possess cell phones or eliminates disciplinary consequences for contraband.
Contact visits can still be restricted, but restrictions must meet the legal criteria established under AB 2434.
Overnight family visits are NOT reinstated. These laws do not change existing family visiting eligibility requirements or eliminate applicable disciplinary restrictions.
The HUGS Act does not eliminate visiting rules or prevent staff from addressing serious misconduct or legitimate security concerns. It also does not allow for individuals to have “makeout sessions” and or kissing and inappropriate touching throughout visits. (Children are present)
