Senator Brian Schatz introduces S. 5482: Promoting Reentry through Education in Prisons Act of 2026
Investivoq LegislationRadar
We have received text from S. 5482: Promoting Reentry through Education in Prisons Act of 2026. This bill was received on 2026-09-23, and currently has 14 cosponsors.
Here is a short summary of the bill:
This bill would create a new office inside the Bureau of Prisons focused on prison education and would direct federal prisons to expand and improve education programs for incarcerated people.
What the bill would create
The bill would establish an Office of Prison Education within the Bureau of Prisons, led by an Assistant Director for Prison Education. This office would be responsible for overseeing prison education efforts across federal correctional facilities.
What education programs it would support
The office would help ensure federal prisons offer a range of educational services, including:
- adult literacy and basic skills classes
- high school diploma or equivalent programs
- postsecondary education
- workforce training leading to credentials, certificates, or associate degrees
- pre-apprenticeships and registered apprenticeships
- career and technical education
- expanded educational opportunities for people with disabilities
It would also standardize these programs across federal prisons and coordinate with other federal agencies, including the Department of Education and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
How the new federal program would work
The bill would create a Federal Prison Education Program that lets the Bureau of Prisons partner with schools, nonprofits, community groups, employers, and other education providers. The office would choose providers based on evidence that they produce strong outcomes, such as program completion, employment after release, reduced reoffending, and housing stability.
The bill says diploma mills could not participate.
What prisons and education providers would have to do
Education providers participating in the program would have to coordinate with the prison on scheduling, space, and security. They would also need to make sure students without a high school diploma get literacy and basic education, and that workforce training is aimed at jobs people can actually pursue after release given licensing or legal restrictions.
Providers would also have to tell students:
- which parts of a program cannot be finished while incarcerated
- what options exist to finish after release
- whether credits can transfer
- what financial aid options may be available
- what career counseling and job-placement help is available after release
Reporting, data collection, and evaluation
The bill would require annual reports from participating providers on things like courses offered, completion rates, degrees and certificates earned, costs, staffing, challenges, and student demographics.
It would also require a formal evaluation of the program’s effects, including:
- disciplinary issues and other in-prison outcomes
- post-release education and employment outcomes
- housing stability after release
- safety inside correctional facilities
- recidivism
- demand for participation and waiting lists
The evaluation would cover outcomes while incarcerated and for 3 and 5 years after release, and its results would be submitted to Congress and published.
Research, training, and technical assistance
The bill would also create a clearinghouse for research, policies, and best practices on prison education, and make that information available on the Bureau of Prisons’ website. In addition, the Bureau of Prisons would provide training and technical assistance to state prison systems on how to develop and run education programs.
Funding
The bill would reserve $170 million per year from Bureau of Prisons appropriations for fiscal years 2027 through 2033 to carry out the federal prison education program. The federal government’s share of each program’s cost could not exceed 75%.
Veterans in prison
The bill would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to identify incarcerated veterans who may be eligible for education benefits, connect them to approved prison education programs, provide financial aid counseling, and give them a resource guide about education and job services available after release.
It would also bar incarcerated veterans with felony convictions from receiving certain monthly housing or subsistence payments while incarcerated, and reduce VA educational payments by amounts already covered by other government programs.
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Senator Brian Schatz Bill Proposals
Here are some bills which have recently been proposed by Senator Brian Schatz:
- S.5664: A bill to provide for the retraining and support of workers displaced by automation technologies or artificial intelligence, to require Federal action during periods of elevated unemployment, and for other purposes.
- S.5614: A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to issue guidance and recommendations for institutions of higher education on removing criminal and juvenile justice questions from their application for admissions process.
- S.5537: Sexual Abuse Services in Detention Act
- S.5482: PREP Act
- S.5414: Stop Child Labor Act
- S.5403: Debt-Free College Act of 2026
You can track bills proposed by Senator Brian Schatz on Investivoq's politician page for Schatz.
Senator Brian Schatz Net Worth
Investivoq estimates that Senator Brian Schatz is worth $4.8M, as of October 6th, 2026. This is the 175th highest net worth in Congress, per our live estimates.
Schatz has approximately $0 invested in publicly traded assets which Investivoq is able to track live.
You can track Senator Brian Schatz's net worth on Investivoq's politician page for Schatz.
2028 Hawaii US Senate Election
There has been approximately $2,422,370 of spending in Hawaii US Senate elections over the last two years, per our estimates.
You can track this election on our matchup page for the 2028 Hawaii US Senate election.
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