1 week Ago By Alex Kienlen
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A bill to allocate funding for a new 3,000-bed prison in Arkansas has failed in the state Senate for the fifth time.Senate Bill 354 fell short of the required 27 votes needed for passage on Tuesday.
The bill would allocate the $725 million needed to build the proposed prison, adding to the $75 million already allocated to the project in 2023.Multi-million funding allocation bill for Franklin County prison fails in Arkansas legislature for fourth timeBecause it is a funding allocation, the bill needs a three-fourths majority to pass, but it can be resubmitted immediately if it fails. The Tuesday vote was its fifth over the last five days the Senate was in session.
The bill has received one more “aye” vote over each of its last five sessions.Opponents of the bill have cited the lack of planning for the prison, including the infrastructure needed to support a prison of that size in a rural area, such as roads and waterworks.Bill heads to governor’s desk to put 10 Commandments in Arkansas classroomsThose in favor of the project point to the county jail overcrowding leading to misdemeanor criminals being released early and possibly going on to commit more serious crimes.
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