Rep. Kamlager-Dove Introduces the End Solitary Confinement Act to Ban the Practice Nationwide
This bill is currently sitting in the House Judiciary and Oversight and Government Reform committees. No action has been taken on this proposal since July 2025, which means it has been stalled for 11 months. The committees must review the bill before it can move forward, but most bills do not receive a vote at this stage.
This bill is led by a group of progressive Democrats and currently lacks the broad support from both parties needed to pass through a divided Congress.
This bill’s path across every version that has carried it.
Reintroduced
Reintroduced from H.R. 4972 (118th), which died when its Congress ended.
H.R. 4972 (118th) →Scores run from -100 (strongly harmful) to +100 (strongly beneficial) for each group, combining impact, certainty, scope, and duration ratings of 1-5. How impact scoring works
Federal correctional officers and staff at BOP, ICE, CBP, and USMS facilities would face significant operational changes. They would need to provide 14 hours of daily out-of-cell programming, conduct hourly check-ins during emergency confinements, and follow new de-escalation procedures. The bill would also require new hiring for neutral hearing officers and the community monitoring body. Staff would lose the tool of solitary confinement as a disciplinary measure.
“Federal facility staff shall meet with the incarcerated person not less frequently than once per hour to attempt de-escalation, work toward the release of the person from such confinement”
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Rep. Cori Bush and other progressive Democrats introduced the End Solitary Confinement Act, which seeks to all but eliminate the practice in federal facilities. The bill would limit isolation to four hours for emergency de-escalation and require at least 14 hours of daily out-of-cell time. It also aims to protect vulnerable populations, including pregnant people and those with mental health conditions, from being placed in solitary confinement against their will.
Human rights groups and Democratic lawmakers held a rally to demand the passage of the End Solitary Confinement Act. Introduced by Rep. Cori Bush, the federal legislation would prohibit the use of solitary confinement for more than four hours and create safe alternatives. Rep. Adriano Espaillat noted that solitary confinement is a form of torture that causes irreparable harm, disproportionately affecting Black and Brown individuals in the federal system.
Senator Edward J. Markey and Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove, along with 23 original sponsors, have re-introduced the End Solitary Confinement Act (HR 4682). The bill would ban solitary confinement beyond four hours in all forms of federal custody and mandate 14 hours of daily out-of-cell time. The legislation is supported by the Federal Anti-Solitary Taskforce and aims to set a national model for ending the practice of long-term isolation.
No votes recorded for this bill yet.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
End Solitary Confinement Act
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