Senate Institutions committee debates reallocation of capital bill to restore security, Wi‑Fi and stormwater funding

The Senate Institutions Committee reviewed proposed amendments to the FY27 capital bill on April 16, debating reallocations that would restore security door controls, fund Wi‑Fi installations at state correctional facilities, and add money for stormwater work tied to a 3‑acre parcel.

Scott Moore, who introduced the spreadsheet of draft changes, said the proposal would move $125,000 in one line, add $1,000,000 in cash for door controls and adjust bond and cash mixes across other line items so the overall package remains budget‑neutral. "Everything here is draft," Moore said, urging members to treat the numbers as working figures.

Why it matters: members said the changes address immediate safety and operational needs and could prevent lengthy delays that raise project costs. The committee repeatedly returned to the door‑controls request, noting that a prior house version removed $2,000,000 and the committee's revision would put about $1,000,000 back. "Door controls and $1,000,000 in cash," Moore summarized. Chair (speaker 1) said she wanted assurances that contractors and agencies would move forward if partial cash was provided.

Members also debated a proposed $3,000,000 addition for Wi‑Fi at correctional facilities (with roughly $2,000,000 in cash on the current spreadsheet). The Chair told staff she would make the Wi‑Fi allocation contingent on a credible implementation plan and clearer operational‑cost estimates, noting the project carries ongoing expenses. "This project's estimated to carry an ongoing operating cost of several $100,000," the Chair said, and asked that Department of Corrections (DOC) and other staff return with specifics.

Several committee members raised timing and contract risks: committee members recalled testimony that contracts for doors, boilers and stormwater were ready to proceed and warned that delaying funding could cause six‑ to eight‑month delays and higher costs. One member summarized the risk: without full funding, projects "would have to be delayed," and that could increase prices.

The spreadsheet also trims or reallocates other items: the street and creek parking facility allocation was reduced from $1.25 million to $500,000; historic preservation grant lines were reshuffled by transferring $750,000 into three $250,000 increases; and members discussed routing additional money to county fairs through the Agency of Agriculture as competitive grants rather than direct line items.

On next steps, the committee asked Budget and General Services (BGS), Department of State Construction (DSC) and DOC to return the following day with contract amounts, timing and priorities so members can decide which partial funds to keep or trim. Scott Moore said he would circulate an updated spreadsheet and that the committee would finalize policy language the following week.

A key exchange captured the tension between safety urgency and fiscal caution. Speaker 4 expressed skepticism about a large capital price tag for one project and threatened to vote no if the committee "waste[d] $18,000,000" without clearer justification. In contrast, staff emphasized immediate safety and security benefits tied to an existing contract: "It is a security upgrade ... that's a really critical project that we don't want to see pause," said Emily Hudson (introduced during the meeting).

The committee did not take a formal vote on any amendment during the session and left final line‑item choices pending further information from implementing agencies.

The committee reconvenes tomorrow to review BGS/DSC/DOC testimony and the revised spreadsheet.