It's a Thursday showdown over a new men's prison
Gov. Rhoden takes new tack in fight for new male prison
What those 18 appropriators learn during the 11 a.m. CT meeting in room 362 at the South Dakota Capitol could, in turn, shape what the Legislature as a whole decides on whether to go ahead with the $825 million project and whether the site should instead be someplace else.
KELOLAND News will livestream the committee hearing at 11 a.m. You'll be able to watch the discussion Thursday morning in the video player above.
Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden used his weekly legislative-session news conference on Wednesday to talk about the need for the new prison. One of his senior aides, Ryan Brunner, told reporters that comparisons to a less-expensive proposed prison in Nebraska are based on prices that are four years old.
Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuizen also spoke at the news conference. Venhuizen, a former appropriator, said that every building project that went through the committee in recent years wound up costing more than the Legislature had initially authorized.
House Bill 1025 would authorize the construction and transfer from the state incarceration fund the final funding of $763 million needed for the project. A two-thirds majority — 47 in the House and 24 in the Senate — is needed in each chamber for the legislation to reach Rhoden's desk.
This comes as the Legislature is grappling with unexpectedly slow growth in state sales tax and other revenues. Former Gov. Kristi Noem recommended millions of dollars in spending reductions before she resigned last month to become the new federal Homeland Security secretary. Millions of one-time dollars would be freed up in the budget deliberations if the new prison is delayed.
Republican Sen. Kevin Jensen is leading the resistance to the new prison, which would be located in his legislative district. He has introduced two pieces of legislation that would halt, at least temporarily, the spending of money that was earmarked in 2023 and 2024 for the prison project.
FAQ about the planned new men's prison
Jensen's Senate Bill 125 calls for establishing an incarceration task force that would independently review the construction and improvement of state correctional facilities. The task force would issue a report no later than December 1, 2025.
The project's guaranteed maximum price of $825 million however expires at the end of March.
Jensen's Senate Bill 204 would prohibit spending any of the money that was set aside in 2023 and 2024 for the new prison until after the task force issues its report. How that money would be spent would have to align with the task force's recommendations.
Both of Jensen's bills are pending in the Senate State Affairs Committee. He serves on the committee. Hearing dates haven't yet been set.
Last week, Corrections Secretary Kellie Wasko surprised some House lawmakers when she said the estimated costs for operating the new prison would be approximately $20 million more than the current $30 million annual cost for the State Penitentiary and Jameson Annex complex in Sioux Falls. She had previously told appropriators about the increase during a January meeting.
Rhoden meanwhile told reporters on Wednesday he was planning to travel to the National Governors Association meeting on Thursday.
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