FloridaFlorida would fund prison upgrades and plan new facilities
If it took effect, the bill would direct annual state funding to correctional facilities and require planning for a new prison and hospital unit starting July 1, 2026.
What it does
The Legislature would set aside $250 million each year for prison construction and other facility needs, using money otherwise transferred to the state's Debt Reduction Program.
The department would plan and design a 4,800-bed prison and a 600-bed hospital unit with mental health services, while seeking a site with a suitable workforce.
The state could issue bonds for new correctional facilities if required budget approvals and payment funds are in place; a committee would recommend financing methods.
Argument forA new hospital unit with mental health services could give people in state custody care in a facility designed for that purpose.
Argument againstSetting aside recurring state revenue for decades could leave less money for the Debt Reduction Program and other state needs.
More detail
The Legislature would provide recurring money to the Department of Corrections for facility improvements. The money would support improvements to new and existing correctional facilities managed by the department. The money would come from general state revenue instead of transfers to the State Board of Administration's Debt Reduction Program. The department must use the funds first for bond payments and related obligations, then for critical facility needs as funded in the state budget. The proposed yearly funding would run from fiscal year 2026–27 through fiscal year 2066–67.
The Department of Corrections would begin planning and designing a new prison and hospital unit. The proposed facilities are one 4,800-bed prison and one 600-bed hospital unit that would include mental health services. The department would seek state or local land, including existing prison sites. It could use funds to buy land if no state or locally owned land is available. The site must have a suitable workforce, considering labor availability, commute distance, cost of living, and other factors. Planning and design would begin July 1, 2026.
The bill would allow bonds to pay for a new correctional facility and create a committee to recommend financing methods. The committee would include representatives from the Florida Senate, House of Representatives, Governor's Office of Policy and Budget, Department of Corrections, and Division of Bond Finance. Bonds could not pay for maintenance or repairs. Except for bonds that refinance earlier bonds, they could be issued only if approved and if remaining fiscal-year debt payments are specifically funded in the state budget. For projects costing more than $5 million, the department would have to hire a construction manager to coordinate design and construction. The department would include funding recommendations in its annual budget request. After new prison construction, it would recommend closure options for facilities that are chronically understaffed or too costly to repair.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 28Added to Conference Report CalendarLatest
- May 12Conference Committee appointed: Appropriations Conference Committee/Budget: Senator Hooper, Chair; Senators Berman, Boyd, Brodeur, Gruters, Passidomo, and Rouson, At Large; Appropriations Conference Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government/Agriculture & Natural Resources: Senator Brodeur, Chair; Senators Arrington, Berman, DiCeglie, Grall, Massullo, McClain, Nathan, Pizzo, Rodriguez, Sharief, and Truenow; Appropriations Conference Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government/State Administration: Senator Brodeur, Chair; Senators Arrington, Berman, DiCeglie, Grall, Massullo, McClain, Nathan, Pizzo, Rodriguez, Sharief, and Truenow; Appropriations Conference Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice/Justice: Senator Garcia, Chair; Senators Martin, Osgood, Polsky, Simon, Smith, Wright, and Yarborough; Appropriations Conference Committee on Health and Human Services/Health Care: Senator Trumbull, Chair; Senators Brodeur, Burton, Davis, Garcia, Harrell, Rodriguez, Rouson, and Sharief; Appropriations Conference Committee on Higher Education/Higher Education: Senator Harrell, Chair; Senators Bracy Davis, Bradley, Burgess, Calatayud, Davis, and Leek; Appropriations Conference Committee on Pre-K – 12 Education/Pre-K – 12: Senator Burgess, Chair; Senators Bradley, Calatayud, Gaetz, Jones, Massullo, Nathan, Osgood, Pizzo, Simon, and Yarborough; Appropriations Conference Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development/Transportation & Economic Development: Senator DiCeglie, Chair; Senators Arrington, Avila, Bernard, Bracy Davis, Grall, Leek, Martin, Mayfield, McClain, Polsky, Smith, Truenow, and Wright.
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Passage, Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 12Bill placed in Conference (Appropriations Conference Committee/Budget)
- May 12Conference Committee appointed
- May 12Bill placed in Conference (Appropriations Conference Committee/Budget)
- May 12In Messages
- May 12The Senate having refused to pass the bill as passed by the House, acceded to the request for a conference
- May 12Passed as amended; YEAS 31 NAYS 0Passed Senate
- May 12Read 3rd timeMinor
- May 12Amendment(s) adopted (589722)
- May 12Read 2nd timeMinor
- May 12Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
- May 12Withdrawn from AppropriationsMajor
- May 12Referred to AppropriationsMinor
- May 12ReceivedMinor
- May 12In Messages
- May 12Requests that the Senate pass the bill as passed by the House or agree to include the bill in the Budget Conference
- May 12Passed; YEAS 105, NAYS 0Passed House
- May 12Read 3rd timeMinor
- May 12Added to Third Reading Calendar
- May 12Read 2nd timeMinor
- May 12Added to Second Reading Calendar
- May 12Read 1st time
- May 5Bill referred to House Calendar
- May 5FiledIntroduced
Criminal JusticeTaxes & BudgetPublic Safety