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HB 5403-E — Correctional Facilities Financing and Capital Improvements
by Rep. Maney (SB 2500-E by Senator Hooper)
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Appropriations Committee (AP)
This bill conforms statutes to funding decisions related to Correctional Facilities Capital Improvement in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for Fiscal Year 2026-2027. The bill creates s. 944.751, F.S., which establishes Correctional Facilities Capital Improvement requirements for the Department of Corrections (FDC). It provides legislative intent recognizing critical fixed capital outlay needs of FDC and provides funding through cash payments or bond proceeds to address capital improvement funding for correctional facilities.
The bill directs the Legislature to appropriate $50 million in recurring funds from the General Revenue Fund each fiscal year until Fiscal Year 2066-2067 to FDC to develop and implement a capital improvement plan for new and existing correctional facilities and specifies use of funds specifically appropriated for capital improvement projects. It also directs FDC to begin the planning and design of one new 600-bed correctional hospital unit, beginning on July 1, 2026, and specifies site and workforce requirements for the location of the new facility. The bill also directs FDC to include recommendations for the use of funds in its annual legislative budget request and specifies that any project costing more than $5 million must be contracted with a construction management entity, and requires the department to provide recommendations to the legislature, upon completion of new correctional institution construction, options to close existing facilities that are perpetually understaffed or continue to present excessive repair and renovation costs. The bill authorizes the Division of Bond Finance to issue bonds to finance the construction of a new correctional facility only and specifies use and distribution of bond proceeds in accordance with the GAA.
The bill also establishes a financing oversight committee to ensure funds and bond proceeds are spent efficiently and responsibly. It specifies members of the committee will be composed of appointees from the Senate, House of Representatives, Office of Policy and Budget in the Executive Office of the Governor, FDC, and the Division of Bond Finance and requires the committee to recommend the most cost-beneficial and effective financing methods to meet the needs of the department for any new capital facility construction.
The bill provides that, notwithstanding s. 2, ch. 2025-207, L.O.F., beginning in the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the Chief Financial Officer shall transfer $150 million from the General Revenue Fund on July 1 of each fiscal year to the State Board of Administration for the Debt Service Program pursuant to s. 215.98, Florida Statutes. Any unexpended funds shall revert on June 30 of each fiscal year to the General Revenue Fund.
If approved by the Governor, or allowed to become law without the Governor's signature, these provisions take effect on July 1, 2026.
Vote: Senate 34-0; House 106-0