Commissary price caps in state correctional facilities
New York passed a bill (A.2592-B/S.1692-B) in 2026 to cap prices on goods sold in correctional facility commissaries. Supported by the NYC Bar Association, the legislation aims to curb price gouging on essential items purchased by incarcerated individuals. The bill had passed both chambers and awaited the governor's signature as of June 2026.
Should New York cap the prices charged to incarcerated people at state correctional facility commissaries?
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Sources
NYC Bar Association — https://www.nycbar.org/blogs/2026-new-york-legislative-session-wrap-up
Nine City Bar–supported bills had passed both houses of the Legislature... commissary price caps in correctional facilities (A.2592-B/S.1692-B).
Positions on this issue · liberal → conservative
- Cap commissary prices at cost and eliminate any profit margin; the state should not profit from incarcerated people.
- Enact the commissary price caps as passed; limit markups on essential goods sold to incarcerated individuals.
- Require price transparency and fair-market pricing in commissaries without imposing hard statutory price caps.
- Allow facilities to set their own commissary prices; use revenue to fund inmate programs and services.
- Privatize commissary operations fully; market competition between vendors will naturally keep prices reasonable.