Gov. Eric Greitens will sign a bill allowing Jefferson City to take possession of 32 acres of the Missouri State Penitentiary property at 3 p.m. Tuesday.
The bill signing, which will be held at the prison in Housing Unit 4, will grant the city 31.82 acres of the old prison grounds. Senate Bill 486 - sponsored by state Rep. Mike Bernskoetter, R-Jefferson City - passed the Senate unanimously in late March and earned House approval in early May with a 127-17 vote.
Jefferson City Mayor Carrie Tergin, who will not be present since she is out of state, said it will be an "exciting" day for the city and she hopes the public will attend.
"It truly is a historic moment, and it's something we've been working on for many years," she said. "There's been a lot of great work leading up to this point, and having it pass the House and Senate was great; and now having it before the governor with his seal of approval is just really a wonderful day for Jefferson City and the state of Missouri."
About 128 of the site's 140 acres is undeveloped. While the city will develop 32 acres, the state will control 95 acres to the east.