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H 2018

An Act relative to prison reform

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Chynah Tyler

Requires DOC to partner with public colleges, offering educational programs and credits toward an associate or bachelor’s degree for incarcerated individuals.

Hearing rescheduled to 11/18/2025 from 01:00 PM-08:00 PM in A-1 and Virtual Hearing updated to New End Time
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Bill Summary · H 2018

Summary: H 2018 — An Act relative to prison reform

Overview

H 2018, introduced February 27, 2025 by Representative Chynah Tyler (7th Suffolk), seeks to reform Massachusetts correctional policy through focus areas on programming evaluation, education, nutrition standards, and commissions to study health care and mental health impacts of confinement. The bill advances several structural changes to the Department of Correction (DOC) and related facilities, emphasizing education, health, and well-being of people in custody. The measure is currently listed as being heard by the Judiciary, with a hearing rescheduled for November 18, 2025.

Key Provisions

1) Study and review of DOC facility programming

  • The bill requires study and review of the impact and effectiveness of facility programming administered by the Department of Correction, including input from a special commission with General Court members.
  • Purpose: assess how programming affects health, well-being, and outcomes for incarcerated individuals.

2) Education partnerships and degree credit (Section 48, Chapter 127)

  • Adds a requirement that DOC facilities maintain a partnership with a public institution of higher education (as identified in section 5 of Chapter 15A) to develop educational programming for prisoners.
  • Provides for prisoners who hold a high school diploma or equivalent to receive course credit toward an associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree from the partnering public institution.
  • Implication: expanded access to higher education and degree pathways for incarcerated individuals.

3) New Section on Food Standards (Section 170, Chapter 127)

  • Mandates the DOC, in consultation with the Department of Public Health, to develop comprehensive food standards within six months of enactment, with annual updates as needed (every five years at minimum).
  • Standards must:
    • Align weekly menus with the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans (USDA/HHS) and consider nutrient content, portion sizes, sodium, added sugars, and inclusion of fruits/vegetables/whole grains.
    • Recommend foods/beverages that reflect the demographics and traditions of the custody population.
    • Ensure potable, palatable drinking water at meals and, as possible, throughout the day.
    • Require at least 20 minutes of seated eating time per meal.
    • Prohibit all food-related punishments.
    • Ensure staff have access to the same selection of foods/beverages as people in custody.
  • All purchases, contracts, and providers must comply; non-conforming contracts must be revised or terminated at renewal.
  • The DOC must survey the custody population at least annually to assess satisfaction with food service and identify improvements.

4) Commission to review health care in DOC facilities (Section 4)

  • Establishes a 15-member commission to review and recommend improvements to health care in DOC, county facilities, and state prisons.
  • Composition includes legislative leaders’ appointees, agency heads (EOPSS, DOC, DPH), two appointees from each of the House and Senate leadership, appointees from the Governor and Black/Latino Legislative Caucus, a formerly incarcerated member, Prisoners’ Legal Services, and NAACP New England (as designee).
  • Mandate: file findings and recommendations with clerks and the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Security by January 1, 2022.

5) Commission on confinement and mental health (Section 5)

  • Establishes a 15-member commission to study the effects of confinement in the DDU on mental health and wellness.
  • Similar composition to the health care commission, with co-chairs from mental health and related committees.
  • Mandate: file findings and recommendations by January 1, 2022.

Who Is Affected

  • Prisoners and detainees in state, county, and contracted facilities.
  • Department of Correction and related health, safety, and public health agencies.
  • Staff and employees within correctional facilities.
  • Partners in higher education and contracted food service providers.

Timelines and Process

  • Enactment triggers development of food standards within six months; ongoing updates and annual custodian surveys.
  • Commissions are to report findings by January 1, 2022 (per text), though the current bill environment is 2025–2026; this may indicate drafting alignment or transitional expectations.
  • Hearing status: Judiciary hearing rescheduled to 11/18/2025 (A-1 and virtual, new end time). Previously scheduled for 11/18/2025 from 1:00 PM–5:00 PM, and earlier notation indicated a broader 1:00 PM–08:00 PM window.

Funding and Implementation

  • The text provided does not specify explicit funding allocations or appropriations for these provisions.

Related Legislation

  • Related bill: HD 531 (replaces) and previously filed matter in 2023-2024 (House No. 1789).

This bill aims to strengthen education access for prisoners, standardize nutrition and wellness practices, and establish commissions to scrutinize health care and mental health impacts within correctional settings.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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