Appropriation; Optometry, Board of.

HB 1749 appropriates $256,272 from state special funds to cover the operational expenses of Mississippi's State Board of Optometry for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). The bill authorizes one permanent position for the board and strictly limits how funds can be used, prohibiting salary increases for current employees and requiring adherence to the agency’s 2026 budget without exceeding allocated amounts. It mandates compliance with state personnel rules, including no use of funds to replace withdrawn federal or special funds, and requires the board to maintain detailed financial records matching its 2025 reporting standards. This is a procedural funding measure with no direct policy impact on optometrists or the public.