Arkansas senators reject $750 million state prison construction appropriation after hours of debate

The Arkansas Senate on Thursday rejected a $750 million capital- improvement appropriation for the Department of Corrections meant “to complete the construction of a prison,” voting 21 in favor, 9 against and 5 present, and thereby defeating the measure.

The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Jonathan Dismang, described the measure as a capital- improvement appropriation to finish a correctional construction project. “This is the Department of Corrections, capital improvement appropriation, $750,000,000 to complete the construction of a prison,” Dismang said on the floor.

Opponents pressed for alternatives. Sen. John King argued that building more beds does not end crime and urged a focus on prevention: “This thing of building prisons and incarceration rates, we don't take care of the crime rate first. It's like putting out the smoke instead of putting out the fire,” he said, adding repeated concerns about staffing and the economic costs of “mega” prisons.

Supporters including Sen. Missy Irvin and Sen. Dea Boyd said they had met with executive-branch officials and reviewed reports supporting the project. Irvin said information provided by the administration and project teams convinced her the plan has been researched and that the state has delivered large projects under budget previously.

Lawmakers debated whether the state should instead incentivize counties to expand and modernize local jails, expand mental-health and diversion programs, and build smaller regional facilities. Opponents repeatedly cited county jail capacity as a separate but connected problem: Sen. Clint Petty noted the administration reported roughly 40,000 unserved felony warrants statewide due to lack of detention capacity, and other senators said many county jails are filled with state inmates.

Other points raised in debate: - Several senators argued staffing is a major unresolved question for any large, single-site prison and cited cost overruns and staffing problems in other states' large prison projects. - Supporters said the state must provide secure, state-operated capacity for felony convictions and described the measure as fulfilling the state’s responsibility for sentences the Legislature has created. - Some senators proposed a middle path: more flexible, regional facilities combined with targeted investments in mental-health, reentry and probation resources.

After extended floor debate and a roll call, the Senate clerk announced the final tally and the bill’s defeat. The result leaves the administration’s correctional construction plan without the requested appropriation, and lawmakers indicated further discussion and planning will be necessary.

What happens next: Senators who opposed the bill urged a shift to regional or county-based solutions and additional investment in mental health and local jail capacity. Supporters said they will continue to press for capital solutions and underscored the need for a statewide plan that addresses both prison capacity and county jail overflow.

Votes at a glance: Senate bill 3 54 — capital appropriation to complete construction of a prison — vote 21 yes, 9 no, 5 present; outcome: failed.