LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A bill to allocate $750 million to fund construction of a 3,000-bed prison in Franklin County failed on the Senate floor on Monday.
The bill had reached the floor after an extended debate in committee, ultimately failing in a 19-10 vote, falling short of the required 27 votes needed for the appropriation. Two additional senators did not vote, and four others cast a vote of “present.”
Arkansas prison funding bill back to Senate after amendment fails in subcommittee
The bill requested an allocation of $750 million to fund the remaining funds needed for the $825 million facility, which had already received $75 million in funding during the 2023 legislative session.
Throughout the bill’s process, opponents found fault with what they called a lack of planning for the new prison, including the expenses beyond the prison itself, such as roads and a wastewater system, given its rural location…