Bill to allocate $750 million for new Arkansas prison likely not returning to Senate after multiple failures

A special session for a billion dollar prison?

Arkansas doesn’t need another prison.

Arkansas lawmakers consider other funding methods as they abandon sixth prison appropriation vote • Arkansas Advocate

Sen. Jonathan Dismang, R-Searcy, asks a question during a meeting of the Arkansas Senate on April 10, 2025. (Antoinette Grajeda/Arkansas Advocate)After five failed votes, a $750 million prison appropriation bill appears dead for the legislative session, and state lawmakers are considering other methods for securing the needed funding to build the 3,000-bed facility in Franklin County. The project has been controversial since it was announced in …

Bill to allocate $750 million for new Arkansas prison likely not returning to Senate after multiple failures

Arkansas prison appropriation bill for Franklin County fails in Senate LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A hotly debated bill to allocate millions of dollars for a new Arkansas prison has likely ended its journey through the state legislature. Senate President Pro Tempore Bart Hester (R-Cave Springs) said the $750 million allocation bill would not return to the Senate floor. “I do not plan to ask for another vote at this time,” Hester said. Multi-million…

Senate unlikely to vote again this session on prison appropriations bill | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Arkansas Senate President Pro Tempore Bart Hester, R-Cave Springs, said Thursday he doesn't expect another vote in the Arkansas Senate during this year's regular session on a bill that would authorize $750 million in spending authority to the state Department of Corrections for costs associated with prison construction in Franklin County in the next fiscal year.

Arkansas lawmakers consider other funding methods as they abandon sixth prison appropriation vote - Conduit News Arkansas

BY: ANTOINETTE GRAJEDA – APRIL 11, 2025 2:00 AM After five failed votes, a $750 million prison appropriation bill appears dead for the legislative session, and state lawmakers are considering other methods for securing the needed funding to build the 3,000-bed facility in Franklin County. The project has been controversial since it was announced in October, due to concerns over transparency, cost, infrastructure and an available workforce. Suppo…

New state prison funding bill unlikely to advance this session, lawmakers say

LITTLE ROCK — It appears any legislation regarding the funding of a new state prison in west Arkansas may not take place during this legislative session. Arkansas Senate Pro Tempore Bart Hester said yesterday he doesn’t expect another vote in the Senate on the bill that would authorize $750 million in spending authority to the […]