HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 5125

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, February 19, 2026.

 The committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1597) of Antonio F. D. Cabral relative to the use of prison labor outside of the Commonwealth, reports recommending that the accompanying bill (House, No. 5125) ought to pass.

For the committee,

MICHAEL S. DAY.

        FILED ON: 2/13/2026

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 5125

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act limiting the use of prison labor.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

 SECTION 1. Chapter 125 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2024 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

 Section 22. No administrator or superintendent of any correctional facility, shall transfer any inmate or prisoner outside of the commonwealth; and no inmate or prisoner of any correctional facility, shall be transferred outside of the commonwealth, for the purpose of engaging in labor outside of the Commonwealth. This section shall not apply if the Governor determines that an emergency in another state or territory creates the need for inmates or prisoners to be transferred for the purpose of engaging in labor outside of the Commonwealth and the inmate or prisoner to be transferred agrees to be transferred in writing. Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to prevent the transfer of inmates and prisoners for non-labor purposes consistent with Chapter 125.