The Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2025 extends and expands federal grant programs supporting successful reentry for formerly incarcerated individuals, specifically adding coverage for substance use disorder treatment and housing services.
Shelley Capito
Senator
WV
The Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2025 extends and improves critical federal grant programs designed to support successful reentry for formerly incarcerated individuals. This legislation specifically reauthorizes key demonstration projects through 2030 and broadens the scope of services these grants can cover. Updates now explicitly allow funding for substance use disorder treatment, including peer recovery support and reentry housing services. Overall, the bill ensures continued federal investment in evidence-based reentry initiatives through the end of the decade.
Second Chance Act Reauthorization Extends Reentry Grants to 2030, Funds Housing and Addiction Treatment
The Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2025 is essentially a major renewal notice for federal programs designed to help people successfully transition back into society after incarceration. It doesn’t create a lot of new programs, but it does something critical for the people who rely on these services: it extends the funding authorization for several key grant programs from their previous expiration date of 2023 all the way through 2030.
The Lifeline Extension: Keeping the Lights On
Think of this bill as securing the budget for the next five years for organizations that do the hard, ground-level work of reentry. Several important grant programs—including those focused on family-based substance abuse treatment, educational methods inside correctional facilities, career training, and community mentoring services—were set to run out of steam. This Act updates the relevant sections of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 and the Second Chance Act of 2007, shifting the authorization window for all these programs to cover 2026 through 2030 (Sec. 2). For the formerly incarcerated person trying to get back on their feet, this means the resources they need—like job training and mentoring—aren't going to vanish next year.
New Focus: Housing and Health
Beyond just extending the timeline, the bill significantly upgrades what the primary state and local reentry demonstration projects can actually spend money on. Previously, these grants covered a broad range of services, but the updated language specifically carves out funding for two major hurdles for returning citizens: housing and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. The bill explicitly allows grant money to fund reentry housing services and a comprehensive approach to SUD treatment (Sec. 2).
This is a massive deal because the lack of stable housing and accessible treatment are two of the biggest factors that lead to recidivism. For example, a person leaving prison with an opioid use disorder can now access grant-funded services that cover peer recovery support, case management, and access to overdose education and reversal medications (like Naloxone). This direct integration of healthcare into the reentry process acknowledges the reality that successful reintegration is impossible without addressing underlying addiction and securing a safe place to sleep. This isn't just bureaucratic shuffling; it's recognizing what actually works on the ground and making sure the money can follow the need.