AB 1646: Juvenile facilities: visitation.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law establishes the Youth Bill of Rights for all youth confined in a juvenile facility, which includes the right to maintain frequent and continuing contact with parents, guardians, siblings, children, and extended family members, through in-person visits, among others. Existing law regulates the provision of these rights.

This bill, the Hug Act, would require that all youth confined in a juvenile facility have the right to engage in certain types of consensual physical contact with visitors during in-person visits, as specified. The bill would require that limitations to this physical contact only be implemented when a significant safety and security concern is present, as described, and would require that all significant safety and security concerns and subsequent contact limitations be documented, as described. The bill would require all juvenile facilities to establish regulations and procedures consistent with these provisions. The bill would make related findings and declarations.

To the extent that this bill would impose a higher level of service on local facilities, it would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 5

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. September 27, 2026Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 537, Statutes of 2026.
2. September 27, 2026Approved by the Governor.
3. September 14, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 1:30 p.m.
4. August 31, 2026Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 62. Noes 7. Page 6970.).
5. August 30, 2026In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
6. August 27, 2026Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 32. Noes 2.).
7. August 17, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
8. August 13, 2026Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
9. August 13, 2026From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (August 13).
10. August 3, 2026In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.
11. June 25, 2026Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
12. June 24, 2026From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 1.) (June 23).