# 119-s-4320: Prison Libraries Act of 2026

119-s-4320, Prison Libraries Act of 2026, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA] (D-CA); status introduced (as of 2026-10-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4320
- As of: 2026-10-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-4320
- Congress: 119
- Title: Prison Libraries Act of 2026
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-04-16
- Sponsor: Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA] (D-CA)
- Cosponsors: 4
- Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-10-21

## Summary

**Expands access to library services for incarcerated people** by creating a federal grant program to fund prison libraries, digital access, education, and reentry programming. The program aims to advance reintegration, reduce recidivism, and increase educational and job-readiness opportunities. - Incarcerated people would get free access to physical books, eBooks, audiobooks, computers, internet in library spaces, plus classes in literacy, digital skills, career readiness, and restorative justice programming. - State and territorial correctional systems could apply for grants with a plan and data showing need, and awards would be 1-year grants renewable up to 6 years to build or expand library services and infrastructure. - Library staff, post-secondary partners, and local public libraries can be funded to hire qualified librarians, run programs, share resources, and host family literacy and cultural activities. *Authorizes $10.0 million per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2031 for these grants.*

## Cosponsors (4)

- Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL] (D-IL), 2026-04-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI] (D-HI), 2026-04-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA] (D-CA), 2026-04-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ] (D-NJ), 2026-04-16T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Federal grants for prison libraries: benefit, low. If enacted, the Attorney General would set up a new grant program within one year. The program would get $10 million each year for fiscal years 2026 through 2031. States and territories could apply for one-year grants, renewable annually but limited to six years total per grantee. Applications woul…
- Prison library services and programs: benefit, low. If enacted, grant money would pay for many prison library services and staff. Funds would cover books, eBooks, audiobooks, multimedia, accessible formats, computers, and internet access inside the library. Grantees could hire qualified librarians and offer digital literacy, job training, post-secon…
- Protections and no-fee prison libraries: benefit, low. If enacted, grant funds would be limited to library services and could not be used for unrelated needs such as food, clothing, hygiene items, medical care, transportation, general prison operations, unrelated staff pay, or unrelated facility maintenance. The bill would bar using grant money to sati…

## Related bills

- 119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026
- 119-s-2823: FAMILY Act
- 119-s-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act
- 119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026
- 119-s-1503: Equality Act

## Sources
- [119-s-4320 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/4320)

## Related
- [119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5066)
- [119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3990)
- [119-s-2823: FAMILY Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2823)
- [119-s-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-51)
- [119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5108)
- [119-s-1503: Equality Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1503)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4320 (as of 2026-10-21).