Arkansas prison appropriation bill for Franklin County fails in Senate
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Video: Franklin County prison plans hit bump after appropriations request fails in committee
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A bill to allocate $750 million to fund construction of a 3,000-bed prison in Franklin County failed on the Senate floor on Monday.
The bill had reached the floor after an extended debate in committee, ultimately failing in a 19-10 vote, falling short of the required 27 votes needed for the appropriation. Two additional senators did not vote, and four others cast a vote of "present."
The bill requested an allocation of $750 million to fund the remaining funds needed for the $825 million facility, which had already received $75 million in funding during the 2023 legislative session.
Throughout the bill’s process, opponents found fault with what they called a lack of planning for the new prison, including the expenses beyond the prison itself, such as roads and a wastewater system, given its rural location.
Those in favor of the prison cited the general county detention center overcrowding leading to a failure of the misdemeanor justice system as inmates assigned jail terms for minor charges were released due to lack of space.
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has supported the legislation.
Under Arkansas law, an appropriation bill may be resubmitted after failing during the session.
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