Stop Prison Price Gouging Act of 2026

This legislation aims to prevent excessive pricing of commissary goods in Bureau of Prisons facilities by mandating that the Director set prices at a level not exceeding their fair market value. Fair market value is defined as the average retail price for identical or substantially similar consumer goods sold to the general public in the state where the facility is located, specifically excluding prices from other correctional institutions or captive markets.

To ensure fair pricing, the bill requires the Director to use a competitive bidding process for all commissary good contracts and explicitly prohibits any contracts that include revenue sharing. The Director must also conduct monthly reviews of prices to ensure continuous compliance with the fair market value requirement.

Robust oversight is established through an annual report to Congress, which must detail all commissary goods, their prices, and summaries of contract terms for each facility. Additionally, the Comptroller General of the United States is mandated to conduct an annual audit of every Bureau of Prisons facility to verify adherence to these pricing regulations.