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Senate approves bills funding new South Dakota prisons

SDPB
South Dakota Senate (file)

A pair of bills funding major new prison facilities now only need the governor’s signature to become law.

The Senate approved both bills Wednesday.

House Bill 1016 allocates $60 million to build a women’s prison in Rapid City.

House Bill 1017 provides $52 million to buy land and design a new men’s penitentiary in Sioux Falls. It also sets aside an additional $271 million for construction.

Proponents say the new facilities are needed to deal with overcrowding in prisons.

Both bills passed in a 32 to 1 one vote. The bills now head to Gov. Kristi Noem's desk.

Josh Chilson is the news director at South Dakota Public Broadcasting. A Florence, S.D. native, Josh graduated with a journalism degree from South Dakota State University. He has worked as a newspaper reporter and videographer, and most recently as managing editor for Dakota News Now. Josh is based out of SDPB's Sioux Falls studio.
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