HB 2154 Pennsylvania House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An Act amending Title 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, establishing the Prison Industry Enhancement Authority; providing for employment of incarcerated individuals by private industry and for subcontracts with correctional agencies; establishing guidelines for incarcerated individual compensation; and providing for location of private sector prison industry.

HB 2154 establishes Pennsylvania's Prison Industry Enhancement Authority to create job opportunities for incarcerated individuals in state correctional facilities through partnerships with private industry. The bill requires private companies to employ incarcerated people under specific guidelines, including setting fair wages (with deductions allowed for room/board, victim compensation, and family support), while explicitly prohibiting displacement of civilian jobs or privatization of prisons. It mandates that private sector prison industry programs must operate within the state's "open market" and cannot create competitive advantages for participating businesses. The law aims to develop work skills for post-release employment and strengthen family ties through structured compensation mechanisms.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status in committee 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Jul 2026

House Passage

Jul 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 22, 2026 Last action Jul 1, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Printer's No. PN2787 → Printer's No. PN3748 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill update adds new sponsors and formally records the bill as amended on second consideration. It significantly expands the bill's scope by adding a new section on collective bargaining units and clarifying that prison labor programs will not result in bargaining agreements for civilian workers. The text also modifies the list of committee members, changes the definition of 'facility' to include motivational boot camps, and alters wage and deduction rules to include unpaid contributions to victim funds.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include a new section on collective bargaining units and clarified that prison labor programs do not create bargaining agreements for civilian laborers. The definition of 'facility' was modified to explicitly include motivational boot camps.

TIMELINE

Added a line indicating the bill was amended on second consideration in the House of Representatives on July 1, 2026.

SCOPE

Added a new section (1914) establishing collective bargaining units and clarifying that prison labor programs will not result in bargaining agreements for civilian laborers.

ELIGIBILITY

Modified the definition of 'facility' to explicitly include a motivational boot camp as defined in section 3903.

REQUIREMENT

Modified the list of authority members to add new representatives from organized labor and the County Commissioners Association, while removing a representative from the business community.

Changed the requirement for work contracts to clarify that work must not trigger coverage under the Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage Act or the Child Labor Act.

FISCAL

Modified the deduction rules for incarcerated individuals to explicitly include 'unpaid contributions' to the Crime Victim Services and Compensation Fund.

Floor votes · House Jul 1, 2026

How they voted

201–0

Passed

Total votes 201

Jul 1, 2026

D Democratic102

102 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican99

99 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jul 1, 2026

House · Passed

House Vote: pass (201-0)

house

Jul 1, 2026

Committee

Re-committed to Appropriations

lower

Jan 28, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported as committed

lower

Jan 22, 2026

Committee

Referred to Judiciary

lower

1 primary · 11 co-sponsors