Montana House approves $250 million package to expand women’s prison capacity
Summary
The Montana House passed House Bill 833, authorizing up to $250 million to address statewide correctional capacity needs with a focus on a new women’s facility and interim housing options.
The Montana House on second reading approved House Bill 833, a proposal that would appropriate $250 million to expand correctional capacity with priority on new space for women inmates.
Representative Jay Fitzpatrick, the bill sponsor, told the chamber the state faces "a lack of capacity in our mental health system and a lack of capacity in our correctional system," and said the bill would set money aside to build a new women's prison and provide transition and interim options. "This bill asks that we appropriate $250,000,000 for a new woman's prison," he said.
The bill outlines three funding pots: roughly $220 million targeted for construction of a new facility, about $30 million for transition costs, and additional funding to remodel a geriatric unit used for male prisoners (estimated at $12–$13 million) to free approximately 80 beds for women. Representative Fitzpatrick described three development options the Department of Corrections will study: (1) state-built and state-operated; (2) privately constructed with a state lease while the state operates the facility; and (3) privately constructed and purchased by the state. He said none of the options "contemplate a private correctional facility." Section 7 of the bill establishes reporting requirements for the department's study and plan.
Other members supported the bill on the floor. Representative Schubert said, "Law and order is basically the... number 1 priority of government and so we need to expand our prison capacity." Representative Mercer, who served on the interim prison-capacity committee, urged passage and pointed to demographic changes in the offender population that increase demand for in-state capacity.
The bill passed second reading with a recorded vote of 91 in favor and 9 opposed. The House report directs further study and coordination with the Department of Corrections, the governor's office, and the Department of Architecture and Engineering before construction proceeds.
Implementation and next steps will depend on the Department of Corrections producing a plan and the governor's approval for any construction or lease strategy. The bill includes reporting requirements on the selected path and timelines for the department to present options to the executive branch.
Votes and formal action on this bill occurred during the Committee of the Whole session; the committee recommended passage and the House recorded the 91–9 tally.
