Corrections committee advances Draft 3.1 capital‑budget amendment with $122M in bond authorizations and $3M for correctional Wi‑Fi

The House Corrections & Institutions Committee on March 27 advanced Draft 3.1 of a capital‑budget amendment after a line‑by‑line review and a roll‑call vote to report the draft favorably to the floor. The draft updates bonded and cash authorizations across state buildings, natural‑resource projects and corrections facilities, and includes a roughly $122 million figure for bond‑funded items (the figure excludes cash authorizations).

The committee moved several corrections‑related items to the top of its discussion. The draft increases FY27 bonded planning, design and construction authorizations for HVAC upgrades at correctional facilities to about $9,426,254.21, and it authorizes $3,000,000 in cash for the Department of Corrections to work with the Agency of Digital Services on a secure Wi‑Fi system for state correctional facilities. The bill also includes a $1,250,000 FY27 cash authorization for replacement of a women's reentry facility.

“For the record, it’s Scott Pownall, Joint Fiscal,” Scott Pownall said when introducing changes in the spreadsheet used to track the draft, noting most numeric figures remained consistent between versions three and four of the document. John Gray of the Office of Legislative Council said he would screen‑share the draft but that he had to leave by 2:00 p.m.

Committee members repeatedly flagged a set of cash reversions and asked for more information before the bill moves further. The draft contains near‑$1 million cash reversions, including about $995,040 from previously authorized EV‑charging‑station projects and $1.0–$1.5 million being reverted from the 120 State Street renovation across different subsections. The chair directed Cole to arrange a briefing with the Department of Buildings & General Services (BGS) for Tuesday so staff can explain the status and unused balances on those projects.

Policy language in the draft also expands eligibility for long‑term, 'advantage' loan terms to some mobile‑home‑park water systems, allowing up to 40‑year loans with interest and administrative fees certified by the Secretary of Natural Resources; that policy change triggers referral of the bill to the House Ways and Means Committee. The text carves out eligible mobile‑home‑park water systems from a statutory household‑cost floor so they can receive particularly favorable loan terms if they meet other qualifying conditions outlined in the draft.

The committee debated drafting conventions and technical clean‑ups as well, including replacing the word 'reallocate' with 'revert' for cash items to align with Finance & Management drafting preferences; staff said the change was intended as stylistic and not substantive. The draft also adjusts smaller line items, including a $45,000 FY27 bonded increase for roadside historic‑site markers (up from $25,000) and a $1,720,818.84 FY27 BGS appropriation for the Newport courthouse project in the judiciary section.

Representative Joe moved to report Draft 3.1 favorably. The motion was seconded and the committee called the roll. Several representatives recorded 'Yes' votes during the roll call; Representative Winters was recorded absent. The chair announced the draft had been voted out favorably and staff will continue follow‑up work over the coming week.

Members asked staff to prepare for next‑week hearings on specific cash reversions and major line items so that the committee can answer questions on the floor. The bill contains reporting requirements tied to certain authorizations — for example, monthly reporting on the correctional Wi‑Fi installation to Joint Legislative Justice Oversight (in consultation with committee chairs) — and several off‑session reporting elements tied to the youth campus provisions.

The draft amends 2025 Acts and Resolves No. 33 in multiple sections rather than replacing totals: committee staff said some totals do not change (the clean‑water totals still tally to $10 million) but the line‑item distribution has been updated. The committee adjourned with instructions to finish background work on cash allocations and to prepare for further floor and committee routing.