Vermont lawmaker urges review of prison wages, commissary pricing, telecom contracts and out‑of‑state placements

Representative Troy Hedrick of Burlington asked the House Corrections & Institutions Committee on Thursday to consider legislation that would raise pay for incarcerated workers, restrict commissary markups, require free telecommunications where feasible and direct the Department of Corrections to plan a return of Vermonters housed in out‑of‑state or for‑profit facilities.

Hedrick framed the proposals as a moral and constitutional issue, pointing to the U.S. Constitution’s 13th Amendment and the 2022 Vermont ballot change (Proposition 2) that amended Article I of the state constitution to add “slavery and indentured servitude in any form are prohibited.” “I do believe that the goals associated with corrections and correction reform are possible,” Hedrick said during his presentation, and he argued that the current pay scale for incarcerated labor in Vermont — which he said ranges from $0.25 to $1.25 per hour with a 10¢ bonus up to $1.35 — raises constitutional and ethical questions.

Hedrick outlined two bills for committee consideration. The first, discussed as H.294 in committee remarks, would require the Department of Corrections to allow incarcerated workers’ wages to be placed in a special fund and, among other provisions, would:

- Require any contract to provide commissary services to ensure prices do not exceed the fair market value of comparable community products by more than 10 percent; - Direct a study and report (due to the General Assembly by Jan. 1, 2026, as drafted) evaluating the department’s telecommunication and commissary contracts with Global Tel*Link (GTL) and the Keefe Group to determine whether prices or contract terms are exploitative; and - Include provisions to require compensation at a federal minimum‑wage level (as described in Hedrick’s remarks) or to place funds derived from wages into a restricted account for victim restitution, reentry savings available at release and recreation funds.

Hedrick told committee members the Department of Corrections had estimated the difference between current pay and paying at federal minimum wage at about $1,300,000, a figure he used to illustrate the budget delta the department would face if wages rose. He also told the committee that several states — including California, Connecticut, Minnesota, Massachusetts and Colorado — had enacted statutes addressing free or reduced telecommunications for incarcerated people.

The second measure, discussed as H.191 in committee comments, would direct the Department of Corrections to create a comprehensive plan to return Vermonters currently housed in out‑of‑state or privately operated for‑profit facilities to in‑state custody, with committee remarks describing the stated legislative intent to eliminate the practice within about a decade. Committee discussion referenced intent language in Act 159 of 2024 and a report due Nov. 15, 2025, that addresses methods to reduce the number of offenders and detainees housed out of state.

Committee members did not vote on either bill during the session. Instead they asked for follow‑up information and recommended that Department of Corrections (DOC) staff be invited to testify at a future meeting to explain contracts, costs and operational constraints. One member asked whether increased wages would change what DOC already provides (health care, housing, meals) and whether higher pay would require additional funding; Hedrick and other members agreed those budget and statutory interactions need review.

Members also raised operational issues affecting each proposal: statutory or contractual limits on DOC operating an in‑house commissary, the complexity of phone access (including court‑approved restrictions on who an incarcerated person may call), and the logistical and capital costs of bringing people back from long‑term placements out of state. Committee discussion noted that the commissioner and DOC staff have previously engaged on related topics and that a fuller evidentiary record — testimony from DOC, vendors, advocates, family members and judicial representatives — is needed before the committee drafts or advances policy.

The committee planned to invite DOC to provide background information at its next scheduled meeting on: (1) the structure and pricing in existing commissary contracts; (2) telephone contract terms and restrictions on access; (3) current work programs and wage calculations; and (4) the out‑of‑state placement contracts and options for bringing Vermonters home. Committee members also discussed inviting a judge to explain how judicial decisions affect the detainee population and whether sentencing patterns influence custody levels.

No formal motions, amendments or votes were recorded on the bills during the meeting. Several members expressed interest in pursuing parts of H.294 (commissary and telecommunications) sooner than the wage change, which committee members said would require deeper budget analysis. Members also requested an update on VINES (the victim notification system) as a separate agenda item.

The committee chair concluded that the next step was to schedule DOC testimony and other invited witnesses in the coming weeks so members could gather information before deciding whether to take formal action.