Rehabilitation Through Reading Act of 2026

This bill, the Rehabilitation Through Reading Act of 2026, establishes new procedures for managing book availability in federal prisons, directly affecting incarcerated individuals and the Bureau of Prisons. It mandates the creation of a Publication Review Committee, comprising members such as an incarcerated individual and a First Amendment expert, to approve or disapprove books. The Director of the Bureau of Prisons must submit requests to this committee to prohibit a book, and the committee cannot ban books based on disfavored viewpoints or content. Incarcerated individuals can appeal book prohibitions, with books remaining available during the appeal process. The bill also requires annual reports to Congress detailing all prohibited books and the outcomes of appeals.