The Alabama House of Representatives has passed a somewhat controversial bill to allow the use of $400 million in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan – which is a COVID-19 relief bill – to help pay for two new 4,000-bed prisons.

The House passed the bill 75 to 25 largely along party lines – with most Republicans supporting it and most Democrats opposing it.

That $1.3 billion plan for the new prisons would be funded with a $785 million bond issue – $400 million from the Rescue Plan – and a total of $154 million from the state General Fund.   Approval of the General Fund dollars came in a third bill which passed 78 to 22.

All three bills move to the Senate, which could vote on them as early as this Friday.

(AL.COM/www.al.com)