Legislators have tried to make prison telephone calls free for the past two Virginia General Assembly sessions. According to The Virginia Pilot, inmates and their loved ones will not have free prison phone calls anytime soon. The bill has not passed, and inmates have to wait for a third session to see if they will get free phone calls.
Delegate Sam Rasoul, D-Roanoke, sponsored House Bill 801, which passed 56-41 with some Republican support. It passed on the final day a bill could be heard in its respective chamber on “Crossover Day” on February 13, 2024. The next day, it was Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services
Bill amended
The bill was originally proposed for the Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) to provide free telephone and video calls to inmates, and make a minimum of one telephone available for every 10 inmates per housing unit.
The bill was amended to include the lowest rate. Lawmakers also eliminated language that would have added more telephone calls per inmate.