Sponsors (5)
The bill expands and standardizes grant-funded prison library and education services—potentially improving rehabilitation, accessibility, and public safety—while increasing federal spending and imposing administrative, security, and equity challenges for grantees and correctional systems.
Incarcerated people will gain expanded access to free library materials, eBooks/audiobooks, computers/internet, accessible formats, and space for postsecondary classes, lowering barriers to education and rehabilitation.
Incarcerated people will have greater access to education, vocational and job-training programs funded by grants, which can improve post-release employment and reduce recidivism, benefiting community safety.
Nonprofits, state and local governments will receive an authorization of predictable funding ($10 million per year, FY2026–FY2031) to support program start-up and multi-year planning for prison library services.
Taxpayers may pay up to $60 million over six years to support authorized activities, and because this is an authorization (not a guaranteed appropriation) program start-up and continuity are uncertain.
State, local, and nonprofit applicants and grantees will face substantial administrative and reporting burdens (detailed plans, demographic data, annual reports, new IT systems), increasing costs and favoring better‑resourced jurisdictions.
Local correctional facilities and staff will face increased security, monitoring, and contraband risks and costs from providing internet and computer access in prisons.
Based on analysis of 11 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes a federal grant program (up to $10M/year for FY2026–2031) to fund prison library services, materials, staff, programming, reporting, and free access for incarcerated users.
Introduced April 16, 2026 by Adam Schiff · Last progress April 16, 2026
Creates a federal grant program to fund and expand library services inside prisons and jails, with $10 million authorized each year for fiscal years 2026–2031. Grants will pay for books, digital materials, librarians, library infrastructure, educational and reentry programming, and require free access for incarcerated people to core library services and space for post‑secondary instruction. The Attorney General must set up the program (in consultation with the Institute of Museum and Library Services), prioritize applicants that follow library standards and measure outcomes, require annual performance reporting, and limit permitted and prohibited uses of grant funds. Grants run up to six years per award and must not charge incarcerated people fees for specified services.