Senate Bill 725 aims to enhance the in-person visiting experience for inmates in state correctional institutions and county jails or houses of correction. The bill mandates that each inmate can designate up to 25 individuals as registered visitors and outlines a formal process for removing visitors from this list. It requires the Department of Corrections and sheriffs to provide at least two in-person visiting periods per week for inmates, except in cases of lockdown or solitary confinement, where visits may be denied for up to 10 consecutive days. Additionally, the bill stipulates that inmates must be allowed to physically embrace their visitors for at least 20 seconds at the beginning and end of each visit.

Furthermore, the bill mandates that visitors be provided with paper, writing instruments, and art supplies during their visits, allowing inmates to keep any original works created during this time. This legislation seeks to improve the emotional connection between inmates and their visitors while ensuring a structured and respectful visiting process.