Stop Prison Price Gouging Act of 2026

Valerie P. Foushee

Democrat · NC · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

No cosponsors on record. Bills can pass without cosponsors — this often means the sponsor introduced the bill alone, either because it's a messaging bill, a chairman's mark, or simply early in the legislative cycle.

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

2026-07-23

Source: Congress.gov

The federal government would be required to price items sold in prison commissaries (like snacks, toiletries, and other goods) at fair market rates rather than marking them up significantly, which would reduce costs for incarcerated people and their families who purchase these items. Currently, prisons often charge much higher prices than what these same products cost outside, effectively creating a captive market where prisoners have limited options. This change would primarily affect incarcerated individuals in federal prisons and their loved ones who send them money for commissary purchases.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 9903 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9903 To require the Director of the Bureau of Prisons to set prices for commissary goods available in Bureau of Prisons facilities at a price not greater than the fair market value, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 23, 2026 Mrs. Foushee introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To require the Director of the Bureau of Prisons to set prices for commissary goods available in Bureau of Prisons facilities at a price not greater than the fair market value, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Stop Prison Price Gouging Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. COMMISSARY GOODS PRICING. (a) In General.--The Director of the Bureau of Prisons shall set the price for any commissary good available in a Bureau of Prisons facility at a price not greater than the fair market value for such good in the State such facility is located. (b) Requirements.-- (1) Contracts.--With respect to entering into a contract for a commissary good, the Director of the Bureau of Prisons-- (A) shall use a competitive bidding process; and (B) may not enter into such contract if such contract provides for revenue sharing. (2) Price review.--Not later than 1 month after the date of enactment of this Act, and every month thereafter, the Director of the Bureau of Prisons shall review the prices set under subsection (a) to ensure such prices comply with the requirement under such subsection. (c) Report.--The Director of the Bureau of Prisons shall annually submit to Congress, with respect to each Bureau of Prisons facility, a report that contains-- (1) a list of each commissary good available for purchase and the price for each such good; and (2) a summary of any contract for commissary goods entered into by the Director including the terms of the contract. (d) Audit.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct an annual audit of each Bureau of Prisons facility to determine if the requirement under subsection (a) is being satisfied. (e) Fair Market Value.--The term ``fair market value'' means the average retail price at which an identical or substantially similar consumer good is sold to the general public within the State in which the Bureau of Prisons facility is located, as determined by the Director of the Bureau of Prisons using prices from multiple nationally recognized retail stores, regional retailers, online retailers that sell to consumers in such State, and other comparable commercial sources. The Director shall exclude prices charged by correctional institutions, detention facilities, or other captive markets when determining fair market value. <all>

• HR9956To require the Secretary of Education to issue guidance regarding seizure safety in elementary schools and secondary schools, and for other purposes.
  Referred to Committee · 2026-07-27
• HRES1448Expressing support for the designation of August 1 as "National Woman Astronomers Day".
  Referred to Committee · 2026-07-22
• HR9852Slow Down Act
  Referred to Committee · 2026-07-22
• HR9677Grad Student Affordable Housing Act of 2026
  Referred to Committee · 2026-07-14