The bill, Substitute House Bill No. 7210, introduces new requirements for contracts between the state and operators of residential facilities, commonly known as "halfway houses," that serve individuals under the Department of Correction (DOC) or the Board of Pardons and Paroles (BOPP). Key provisions include mandates that discharges from these facilities must align with individualized discharge plans developed by DOC or BOPP. Additionally, the bill prohibits discharging residents solely due to facility closures unless they are moved to an equivalent facility, as determined by the DOC commissioner or BOPP chairperson. If no equivalent facility is available, the closing facility must remain operational until all residents are discharged according to their plans. The operators of the closing facilities will also bear the costs associated with these requirements.

House Amendment "A" modifies the original bill by removing halfway houses operated on behalf of the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services from its scope. The bill is set to take effect upon passage and may result in potential costs to the DOC starting in FY 26, depending on how future contracts are structured and the financial viability of contracted providers in meeting the new obligations. The bill does not specify enforcement mechanisms for its provisions.