Read for Reentry Act of 2026
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (30 Jul 2026): Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
What this bill does
H.R. 9986, the Read for Reentry Act of 2026, would direct the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study on libraries and library services in state and federal prisons. Within one year of enactment, the Comptroller General would be required to submit a report to Congress covering the types of library services offered, their funding sources, and demographic details of incarcerated individuals in facilities with such services (including age, race, ethnicity, gender identity, education level, criminal background, and length of incarceration). The report would also examine recidivism rates, parole compliance rates, workforce placement outcomes, and rates of disciplinary infractions among individuals released from prisons offering library services, along with any other findings the Comptroller General deems relevant.
The bill does not create new programs, funding, or requirements for prisons themselves; it focuses on gathering information. Its primary effect would be on the GAO, which would take on the study and reporting task, and on Congress, which would receive data potentially useful for future policymaking on prison libraries and reentry programs. Incarcerated individuals and prison systems would be indirectly affected as subjects of the study, but the bill imposes no direct obligations on states or prison administrators beyond what GAO may request for data collection.
The bill was introduced on July 30, 2026, by Rep. Rick Larsen and several cosponsors, and referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. As of the latest action, it remains at the introduction stage; no committee markup, floor vote, or further congressional action has yet occurred.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Timeline
30 Jul 2026
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 9986 do?
- H.R. 9986, the Read for Reentry Act of 2026, would direct the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study on libraries and library services in state and federal prisons. Within one year of enactment, the Comptroller General would be required to submit a report to Congress covering the types of library services offered, their funding sources, and demographic details of incarcerated individuals in facilities with such services (including age, race, ethnicity, gender identity, education level, criminal background, and length of incarceration). The report would also examine recidivism rates, parole compliance rates, workforce placement outcomes, and rates of disciplinary infractions among individuals released from prisons offering library services, along with any other findings the Comptroller General deems relevant. The bill does not create new programs, funding, or requirements for prisons themselves; it focuses on gathering information. Its primary effect would be on the GAO, which would take on the study and reporting task, and on Congress, which would receive data potentially useful for future policymaking on prison libraries and reentry programs. Incarcerated individuals and prison systems would be indirectly affected as subjects of the study, but the bill imposes no direct obligations on states or prison administrators beyond what GAO may request for data collection. The bill was introduced on July 30, 2026, by Rep. Rick Larsen and several cosponsors, and referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. As of the latest action, it remains at the introduction stage; no committee markup, floor vote, or further congressional action has yet occurred.
- Has H.R. 9986 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for H.R. 9986. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored H.R. 9986?
- H.R. 9986 was sponsored by Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2] (D-WA), with 8 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 9986?
- Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. (30 Jul 2026).
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