Rehabilitation Through Reading Act of 2026

The "Rehabilitation Through Reading Act of 2026" mandates the Director of the Bureau of Prisons to establish a **Publication Review Committee** within 90 days of the Act's enactment. This committee, comprising at least five members, will include an Ombudsman, a **professional librarian** employed by the Bureau, an individual in the custody of the Bureau, and an expert in First Amendment law. The committee's primary function is to approve or disapprove the availability of books at Bureau of Prisons facilities. Any book prohibition requires a detailed written request from the Director and subsequent approval by the committee. Incarcerated individuals can appeal book prohibitions to the committee, which must issue a final determination within 90 days. Crucially, the bill stipulates that a book may not be prohibited to eliminate a **disfavored viewpoint** or content, and the committee must assess if a prohibition is substantially motivated by such factors. If an appeal is filed before a book's removal, it must remain accessible until the committee makes a final determination. Additionally, the Director must submit an annual report to Congress detailing all prohibited books and the outcomes of any appeals.