House Appropriations hears Corrections and Institutions capital bill, committee advances measure unanimously

Representative Alice Evans, chair of the Corrections and Institutions Committee, briefed the House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, on the committee's proposed capital bill, outlining funding levels, reallocations and language changes across state building, water, corrections and cultural projects.

Evans said the bill's spreadsheet "is going to be the easiest piece. So let's start with a spreadsheet," and walked members through the back-page summary showing the committee's two-year funding box, distinctions between bonded and cash funds, and line-item changes from the governor's recommendation.

The nut graf: The bill packages major maintenance and new planning dollars for the Buildings and General Services (BGS) portfolio, corrections facilities, drinking- and clean-water programs, historic preservation and other local infrastructure needs. Provisions include transfers and language intended to increase project flexibility, an extension of the time allowed for unencumbered cash funds, and a continuing special committee role for capital complex flood recovery work.

Most important numbers and scope were presented by Evans: she said the committee is working in a box that includes roughly $61.6 million of bonded dollars in FY 2026 and about $50.3 million in FY 2027, and a cash fund balance of about $11.3 million for the two-year period. Evans described the committee's two-year bonded total in the spreadsheet and said adding cash brings the two-year total to "almost a hundred and 23,300,000" (figures reported to the committee by Evans during the hearing).

Key policy and project highlights discussed

- BGS major maintenance and State House design: The committee reduced a proposed FY 2026 small-cash maintenance item in favor of bonded dollars to preserve tracking and oversight. Evans said the State House faces major exterior moisture and stone work; the committee placed a planning-design allocation (approximately $500,000 in Evans's presentation) for initial work on the building.

- Corrections facilities (DOC): The bill continues a multi-year effort to install HVAC/air-conditioning systems at priority correctional facilities, with…