Decisive vote on prison looms as House committee passes off funding measure

Committee gives neutral recommendation to Lincoln County prison proposal

Department of Corrections Secretary Kellie Wasko testifies before the House State Affairs Committee for a measure that would fund the state’s prison proposal in Lincoln County. (Austin Goss/The Dakota Scout)

PIERRE — The latest skirmish in the state’s years long bid to build a new prison pitted opponents and supporters against each other again Wednesday, ending in a stalemate.

The House State Affairs Committee voted 12-1 to send House Bill 1025 to the House Appropriations Committee. It did not go with a recommendation on whether the prison should receive funding or not.

The measure is what would drag the proposed prison site, slated for construction between Harrisburg and Canton, out of the planning stages and into reality. It moves $763 million out of the state’s incarceration construction fund to the facility that is slated to cost roughly $825 million.

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