Stop Prison Price Gouging Act of 2026

Key Points

• This bill requires federal prisons to stop charging high prices for items like food, hygiene products, and clothing. The Bureau of Prisons would have to set prices based on what these items cost at regular stores in the same state.
• Prison officials would be banned from signing contracts that allow the government or private companies to share the profits from these sales. All new contracts for goods must go through a competitive bidding process to keep costs down.
• The Bureau of Prisons would have to check prices every month to make sure they stay fair. They would also need to send a report to Congress every year listing every item sold and how much it costs.
• The government would conduct yearly audits of every federal prison to make sure they are following the new rules. This helps ensure that people in prison and their families are not being overcharged for basic needs.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.