HB 5 Mississippi House · 2025 First Extraordinary Session

Appropriation; Forestry Commission.

HB 5 appropriates over $31 million in state funds for Mississippi's State Forestry Commission during fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026), split between $17.75 million from the General Fund and $13.67 million from special source funds. The bill directly affects the commission’s 266 authorized positions (259 permanent, 7 time-limited) by restricting $17.33 million to "Personal Services" (salaries, benefits, and vacancy funding for unfilled roles), with strict limits on annualized personnel costs. It mandates the commission maintain detailed financial records and achieve specific performance targets, such as suppressing forest fires within 2 hours and managing 35,000 acres for forest development. The bill is procedural, focused solely on funding allocation and budget compliance, with no new policy changes.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

May 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

House Passage

May 2025

Senate Passage

May 2025

Signed into Law

Jun 2025

Introduced May 28, 2025 Signed Jun 4, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Passed the lower → Current version · 1 edit

MINOR

The bill title was updated to reflect its current status as sent to the Governor for final approval, replacing the previous 'As Passed the House' designation. No substantive policy changes, funding amounts, or legislative requirements were altered in this version.

TECHNICAL

Updated bill status from 'As Passed the House' to 'As Sent to Governor' in both the title header and the act description, indicating the bill has completed the House stage and is now awaiting final executive action.

As Introduced → As Passed the lower · 10 edits

MAJOR

The bill was amended to add new performance targets for the State Forestry Commission, clarify how vacancy funding can be used, and include new provisions regarding headcount reductions, transfers of funds, and compliance with federal reporting requirements. The core funding amounts and fiscal year dates remained unchanged, but the operational restrictions and reporting expectations were expanded.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include specific performance metrics for forest protection and management, as well as new restrictions on how funds can be used for headcount changes and escalations.

REQUIREMENT

Added specific performance measures for FY2026 including suppression time, acres burned under prescribed burn, percent of fires suppressed, forest regeneration, and forest land re-inventory targets.

Clarified that vacancy funding must be used only to fill authorized but unfilled positions and cannot be used for promotions, title changes, or salary increases for current employees.

Added a provision stating that if the authorized headcount decreases from FY2025 to FY2026, the agency has discretion on which positions to remove.

Added a requirement that no general funds may be used to replace federal funds or special funds that are withdrawn and no longer available.

Added a requirement that the agency must comply with IRS Publication 15-A regarding reporting income paid to contract employees.

Added a provision requiring the State Personnel Board to obtain written approval from the Department of Finance and Administration before escalating any positions.

Added a new section requiring the agency to submit a budget request for FY2027 to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee with performance reporting.

Added a provision allowing funds to be used to purchase accumulated compensatory time within available funds.

Added a preference provision requiring the Mississippi Industries for the Blind to be given preference when purchasing commodities or equipment, similar to existing law.

FISCAL

Added a provision transferring $200,000 from the State Forestry Commission's special funds to the Department of Agriculture and Commerce for the Beaver Control or Eradication Program.

Floor votes · Senate May 29, 2025 · House May 28, 2025

How they voted

39–6

Passed · 14 other

Total votes 59

May 29, 2025

D Democratic20

9 Yea 5 Nay 6

45% Yea

R Republican39

30 Yea 1 Nay 8

76% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jun 4, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by Governor

executive

May 29, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed

upper

May 29, 2025

Upper · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass

upper

May 29, 2025

Committee

Referred To Appropriations

upper

May 29, 2025

Introduced

Transmitted To Senate

lower

May 28, 2025

Introduced

Transmitted To Senate

lower

May 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed

lower

May 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass

lower

May 28, 2025

Committee

Referred To Appropriations A

lower

1 primary · 7 co-sponsors