A bill to authorize $750 million in additional spending for prison construction in Franklin County fell short in the Arkansas Senate for the fifth time, receiving 21 votes—six short of the 27 required for passage.
Senate Bill 354, sponsored by Sen. Jonathan Dismang (R-Searcy), would help fund a 3,000-bed "mega prison" projected to cost $825 million, with $75 million already allocated and $330 million reserved from previous legislative action.
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and her administration are strongly backing the bill, citing overcrowded county jails and the need for increased public safety. Some senators, however, object to the plan’s scale and cost, advocating for smaller regional prisons and/or increased public safety spending.
Although the bill did not pass, this latest vote showed growing support, reaching its highest vote count yet by picking up Senators Dan Sullivan and John Payton. The Board of Corrections is already moving forward with contractor and design solicitations for the facility.
A companion funding bill, SB633 by Sen. Josh Bryant, was also introduced to redirect surplus and reserve funds to help finance the project in multiple installments through 2026. The prison site—an 815-acre tract in Franklin County—was quietly purchased last fall for $2.95 million. Vanir Construction, contracted to oversee the project, estimated the total cost at $825 million, including utilities and contingencies.
Sen. John Payton: "I am willing to trust and give them a chance because they have proven to me that they have done their homework."
Sen. Breanne Davis: "We are not safe because law enforcement cannot protect us because they have nowhere to put these criminals."