Authorize the Department of Corrections to construct a prison facility for offenders committed to the Department of Corrections in Lincoln County, to make an appropriation therefor, to transfer moneys to the incarceration construction fund, and to declare an emergency.
Summary
HB1025 authorizes the South Dakota Department of Corrections to contract for and oversee construction of a new prison facility in Lincoln County for offenders committed to the department. The bill covers the full project scope, including furnishings, equipment, utilities, architectural and engineering services, and related site improvements needed to complete the facility. It also allows a Lincoln County municipality to treat sewage from the prison facility.
The bill makes a large capital appropriation for the project by transferring $148,109,837 from the general fund and $33,926,134 from the budget reserve fund into the incarceration construction fund, then appropriating $763,000,000 from that fund to the Department of Corrections. It places project administration under the Bureau of Human Resources and Administration, requires the Department of Corrections secretary to approve vouchers, and directs the state auditor to issue warrants for authorized expenditures. Any unspent or unobligated money remaining after June 30, 2030, must revert under state law, and the bill takes effect immediately as an emergency measure.
Impact
HB1025 would amend state spending and capital construction authority by creating or using the incarceration construction fund for a major prison project and by directing large transfers from the general fund and budget reserve fund. It gives the Department of Corrections explicit authority to proceed with construction in Lincoln County and assigns administrative oversight to the Bureau of Human Resources and Administration under existing public works procedures. The bill affects state budgeting, corrections infrastructure, and local utility arrangements in Lincoln County, while also setting a reversion date for unused funds and accelerating implementation through an emergency clause.
Sentiment
The voting history suggests the bill was controversial and closely divided. It advanced through committee and onto the calendar, but later floor action showed substantial resistance: a motion to amend passed narrowly, the amended do-pass motion failed by one vote, and reconsideration ended in a 35-35 tie. That pattern indicates strong support from proponents of the prison project and equally strong opposition or hesitation from members concerned about the proposal.
Contention
The main points of contention appear to be the scale and cost of the prison construction project, the use of general fund and budget reserve dollars, and whether the state should move forward with a new facility in Lincoln County at all. Supporters likely viewed the project as necessary corrections infrastructure, while opponents appeared concerned enough to block final passage on the amended bill and to force a reconsideration vote. The narrow and tied votes indicate disagreement over both the policy choice and the fiscal commitment.