Governor Larry Rhoden has agreed to postpone the special legislative session initially scheduled for July to decide the future of the South Dakota State Penitentiary.
Lieutenant Governor Tony Venhuizen, chair of the Project Prison Reset Task Force, requested the delay, citing insufficient time for the task force to finalize a detailed proposal and for legislators to review it before the session.
The task force aims to propose a new men’s prison with 1,500 to 1,700 beds, costing up to $600 million, with possible locations including Mitchell, Worthing, and sites near existing prisons.
The current penitentiary, over 140 years old, has been unanimously deemed in need of replacement.
Governor Rhoden plans to consult legislative leaders to reschedule the session and looks forward to the task force’s next meeting on July 8.