Stop Prison Price Gouging Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4]
Introduced
Summary
Cap commissary prices at state fair market value. This bill would require the Bureau of Prisons Director to set commissary prices no higher than the average retail price for the same or similar goods in the State where each facility sits and to exclude captive-market prices when calculating that average.
Show full summary
- Families and incarcerated people: Lowers what people behind bars and their families pay for food, hygiene items, and phone cards by tying commissary prices to local retail averages.
- Bureau of Prisons operations: Forces monthly price reviews and annual public reporting of every commissary item and contract terms. Contracts must use competitive bidding and may not include revenue sharing.
- Vendors and contractors: Changes procurement rules by banning revenue-sharing deals and favoring competitively bid contracts, which could alter existing agreements and profit models.
- Oversight and transparency: Requires the Government Accountability Office to audit each facility annually to check compliance and creates a public record of commissary prices and contracts.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Lower prices and oversight for prison commissaries
If enacted, commissary item prices at Bureau of Prisons facilities would be capped at the State-level fair market value. The Director would determine that average using national, regional, and online retailers and would exclude prices set by prisons or other captive markets. The bureau would use competitive bidding for commissary contracts and could not sign contracts that share revenue with vendors. Not later than 1 month after enactment the Director would begin monthly price reviews. The Director would send an annual report to Congress for each facility listing every commissary item, its price, and any contract terms. The Comptroller General would audit each facility yearly to check compliance.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4]
NC • D
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov