Arkansas lawmakers on Thursday advanced a $750 million appropriation bill to fund the construction of a new 3,000-bed prison in western Arkansas. The Joint Budget Committee approved the measure after weeks of debate, with concerns raised over the project's cost, location, and impact on the local community.

Searcy Republican Sen. Jonathan Dismang, who is the co-chair of the committee and the lead sponsor of Senate Bill 354, emphasized that the bill was necessary to start the process, though no funds will be released until further legislative approval. “This is the appropriation for a capital project to build a prison. Period. This is not the end of our responsibility. This is not the end of our discussion. This allows us to have the bigger conversation,” Dismang said.

The bill received mixed reactions from lawmakers. Critics, including Sen. Jimmy Hickey, raised concerns about the suitability of the land purchased for the prison, including inadequate infrastructure and environmental issues. "I did an amendment to try to make it so that we’d have the money because this might be a four- or five-year project, but we don’t want to listen to that," Hickey remarked, referencing failed amendments that would have allocated money in advance for the project.

On the other hand, supporters like Sen. Bart Hester argued that the prison was necessary for addressing overcrowding in county jails, which currently house approximately 10% of state inmates. “I struggle to think, what if we don’t build this prison, what is the cost to society?” Hester said.

The project is part of a broader effort to meet growing prison space needs in light of the Protect Arkansas Act, which requires more serious offenders to serve the majority of their sentences. The new prison, expected to cost around $825 million, would ease overcrowding and reduce the state's $30 million annual cost to house inmates in county jails.

Despite the disagreements over its details, the prison project received backing from the Joint Budget Committee, passing the Senate with a 17-10 vote and the House with a 16-10 vote. It now moves forward to the governor for final approval.

The prison construction is expected to be completed in phases, with the first part of the facility set to open in late 2026 or early 2027, and the project fully finished by 2029. However, issues like rising construction costs, the impact of steel tariffs, and local opposition to the prison’s location could affect the timeline and budget.

Moreover, lawmakers voiced concerns over the prison’s potential environmental impact and the staffing shortages that have plagued Arkansas' correctional facilities for years. Several members of the committee suggested that slowing down and reevaluating the project’s specifics might be necessary to ensure both fiscal responsibility and public trust.

This move follows a controversial land purchase in October 2023, when Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced the acquisition of 815 acres in Franklin County for the prison at a cost of $2.95 million. The purchase was criticized for a lack of transparency, and some local officials and residents have continued to oppose the project, citing concerns about its long-term impact on the rural area.

In addition to the appropriations for the prison, lawmakers also discussed the state’s general revenue surplus, which reached $698.4 million in fiscal year 2024. Despite these funds, some lawmakers questioned whether the site selection and planning process for the new prison were conducted in the most effective manner.

As the project advances, ongoing discussions will focus on funding sources, land development, and workforce challenges, with the state facing pressure to address the growing need for correctional space while also managing its fiscal health.

Originally reported by Antoinette Grajeda for the Arkansas Advocate in Arkansas Times.