The bill we’ve been working on with incarcerated individuals for the last year — AB 746 — was introduced by Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D - Inglewood) on February 18, 2025. AB 746 would incentivize the development of worker cooperatives within California prisons and establish critical infrastructure to support an ecosystem of cooperatives owned and governed by incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals, as well as crime survivors. The bill has already passed unanimously out of both the Assembly Labor & Employment Committee and the Public Safety Committee, gained Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D–San Jose) as a co-author, and is now headed to the Appropriations Committee on May 22nd.

We want to thank all of those who submitted letters of support to both of these committees!!

“AB 746 is about creating job programs that truly rehabilitate and repair. We are creating real opportunities for people both inside and outside of prison to create jobs with dignity, contribute to their communities, and build a brighter future,” said Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (Assembly District 61, Los Angeles). “This bill invests in communities hit hardest by poverty and incarceration, supports restitution for victims, and lifts up green businesses that can drive our economy forward. It’s a commonsense step toward justice, safety, and dignity for all.”

“Green jobs offer a powerful rehabilitative strategy for all stakeholders,” wrote Kelton O’Connor, Executive Director of the Let Us Contribute Initiative (LUCI), in his statement for the committee hearings. “Healing the planet is healing work, and everyone deserves the opportunity to take part in that restoration, both for their communities and for themselves.

At both of the committee hearings, Hope Williams, Director of Legislative Advocacy, and Hasmik Geghamyan, Staff Attorney, offered testimony in support on behalf of the Law Center. “This model works,” said Hasmik. “At Argentina’s maximum security unit 15 in Mar del Plata, prison cooperatives reduced recidivism to nearly zero by fostering ownership, dignity and real economic opportunity. Similar models have succeeded in Puerto Rico, Italy, India and beyond.” Additionally, Hope says, “If legislators want to effect change and break the cycle of poverty and incarceration, they must invest in models that establish autonomy and offer real pathways for transformation.” Kelly Groth, Lead Organizer for LUCI, who has been instrumental in shaping our legislative strategy and coordination throughout this process, shared her insights as well: "Worker cooperatives offer a model of shared power and collective responsibility. AB 746 is about recognizing that people inside have the skills, wisdom, and drive to build something better."

For updates on our projects and legislation supporting incarcerated and formerly incarcerated workers to form and join cooperatives, please visit theselc.org/cooperatives_in_prisons. To support the work of the Let Us Contribute Initiative, please visit their website and donate at letuscontribute.org.