A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to prohibit the use of slavery and involuntary servitude as a punishment for a crime.
This joint resolution proposes an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would explicitly prohibit using slavery or involuntary servitude as a punishment for a crime. The bill seeks to remove the exception in the 13th Amendment that currently allows such practices within the criminal justice system. If ratified by three-fourths of state legislatures, this change would directly affect incarcerated individuals by banning forced labor as a sentence. The text clarifies that the amendment does not prevent voluntary work programs or community service alternatives for those in correctional institutions.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Sep 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Sep 15, 2026
Last action Sep 15, 2026
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
2
Key actions
0
Committee
1
Sep 15, 2026
Committee
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
upper
Sep 15, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
1 primary · 12 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Jeff Merkley
DDemocratic
Co
Alex Padilla
DDemocratic
Co
Chris Van Hollen
DDemocratic
Co
Cory A. Booker
DDemocratic
Co
Edward J. Markey
DDemocratic
Co
Elizabeth Warren
DDemocratic
Co
Mazie K. Hirono
DDemocratic
Co
Peter Welch
DDemocratic
Co
Raphael G. Warnock
DDemocratic
Co
Richard Blumenthal
DDemocratic
Co
Richard J. Durbin
DDemocratic
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