Appropriation; Fire Academy.

HB 1743 appropriates $6,854,812 from the state General Fund and $1,825,000 from the Capital Expense Fund to support the Mississippi State Fire Academy for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). The bill authorizes 62 permanent staff positions, requires training 8,100 students at an average cost of $1,151.60 per student, and prohibits using funds for salary increases of current employees or to replace federal funds. It mandates detailed financial record-keeping, prioritizes purchasing from Mississippi Industries for the Blind, and ties future funding to meeting performance targets. This funding directly affects the State Fire Academy’s operations, staffing, and training programs for firefighters across Mississippi.