Subcommittee backs bill to cap prices in Department of Corrections canteens; sponsor cites family complaints of high costs

House Bill 3,929, sponsored by Representative John King, received a favorable report from the Domestic Relations Business and Probate Law Subcommittee on Thursday after members discussed regulating pricing at Department of Corrections canteens.

Representative King said he sponsored the bill because family members of incarcerated people reported high prices for basic items in canteens. "I believe that there's price gouging within the system, in the canteens, and this just puts, where they cannot exceed a certain amount," King said. He said family members reported paying, for example, about $10 for a small deodorant.

Representative David Martin asked a clarifying question about whether the bill mandates canteens or instead regulates them if a facility chooses to operate a canteen. "Way I'm reading this is it's not required that these go in there. It’s not required that the prisons actually do this. This is just a may in the event they want to, this would then regulate it," Martin said. King agreed, noting the decision would be left to local wardens or facility managers, but that the bill would set limits on pricing where a canteen operates.

The subcommittee recorded a roll-call favorable report of 5-0. The recorded yes votes were Representative Bernstein, Representative Paula Calhoun, Representative Guest, Representative John King and Representative David Martin.

The hearing did not produce specific price caps on the record nor an agency implementation timeline; the transcript shows the bill as regulatory guidance that would apply if a facility runs a canteen. No amendments or fiscal notes were recorded in the subcommittee transcript.