The proposed bill aims to address the backlog of inmates awaiting transfer to the Division of Correction by allowing certain adjoining counties in Arkansas to form partnerships for the construction, expansion, or improvement of shared county jails. Specifically, it introduces a new section to the Arkansas Code, titled "County jail state inmate close-to-home partnership," which outlines the conditions under which two or more counties can collaborate on such projects. The partnership agreements must be approved by the quorum court of each participating county and the Board of Corrections, with a deadline for approval set before June 30, 2027.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that the partnership can only be formed if at least one of the counties involved is among the eight counties contributing the most inmates to the Division of Correction as of January 1, 2025. It also allows for funding from sources authorized by the General Assembly to cover costs associated with the shared jail facilities. This legislative effort seeks to improve the management of inmate populations and enhance local correctional facilities through collaborative efforts among counties.