Appropriation; Contractors, Board of.

SB 3026 appropriates $4.3 million from state funds to cover the Mississippi State Board of Public Contractors' operating expenses for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). The bill authorizes 18 permanent staff positions and includes strict rules: funds cannot increase salaries for current employees (only for new hires), must maintain minimum salary levels, and allocates $2.3 million specifically for enforcement, collections, and administrative costs related to contractor fines. It also requires the Board to prioritize purchasing from Mississippi Industries for the Blind when bids are equal. This is a funding bill with no new policy changes, solely directing how existing state funds will be spent.