HB 1906 Mississippi House · 2026 Regular Session

Appropriation; Child Protection Services, Department of.

HB 1906 appropriates $321,341,757 total for Mississippi's Department of Child Protection Services (DCPS) for fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). It allocates $143,462,074 from general funds and $177,879,683 from special source funds to cover the department’s operating expenses, primarily for personnel costs. The bill specifies that $125,185,108 of these funds must be used exclusively for "Personal Services" (salaries, wages, and fringe benefits), including authorized headcounts of 1,431 permanent and 393 time-limited positions. It also authorizes six new attorney positions and includes strict rules to prevent overspending on personnel, requiring departmental compliance with salary caps and headcount limits.

Issues: ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Feb 20, 2026 Signed Apr 6, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Passed the lower → Current version · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to reflect its status as sent to the Governor, with the most significant substantive change being a reduction in the total appropriation for the Department of Child Protection Services. The General Fund allocation decreased by approximately $72,000, while the Special Fund allocation increased by over $40 million, resulting in a net decrease of roughly $22.6 million for the fiscal year. Additionally, the authorized headcount for permanent positions increased by nine, and the deadline for adjusting vacancy funding was shifted from February to March 1, 2026.

Scope change

The scope of the bill remains an appropriation for the Department of Child Protection Services for Fiscal Year 2027, but the specific funding sources and total amounts available have been altered.

FISCAL

The total appropriation for the Department of Child Protection Services was reduced from $143,462,074 to $140,814,395 in the General Fund, while the Special Fund appropriation increased significantly from $177,879,683 to $218,192,896.

The total authorized headcount for permanent positions increased from 1,431 to 1,440, and time-limited positions increased from 393 to 403.

The number of new headcounts authorized by the Legislature was reduced from six to three.

TIMELINE

The deadline for agencies to adjust vacancy funding based on filled headcounts was changed from February 1, 2026, to March 1, 2026.

As Introduced → As Passed the lower · 17 edits

MAJOR

The bill was amended to clarify funding restrictions, add specific allocations for child protection services, and include provisions for technology upgrades and vendor payments. The changes ensure that general funds cannot replace withdrawn federal or special funds, allocate money for a 24-hour hotline for trafficking victims, and authorize payments for past expenses.

Scope change

The scope expanded to include specific mandates for maintaining a 24-hour hotline for human trafficking victims, allocating funds for technology upgrades, and authorizing payments for expenses incurred in previous fiscal years.

FISCAL

Added a $93,601 allocation to the Mississippi Children's Trust Fund from General Fund court assessments.

Allocated $250,000 to maintain a 24-hour hotline for children victims of commercial and sexual exploitation or human trafficking.

Authorized up to $5,431,692 for Kinship Care Payments.

Appropriated $11,086,239 for Adoption Assistance and Congregate Care Homes Maintenance Payments, plus $1,711,959 for Foster Home Maintenance Payments.

Reappropriated $2,500,000 from the Capital Expense Fund for Information Technology System Developments.

Allocated $4,229,000 from the Capital Expense Fund for the operation and maintenance of the pathways program.

Authorized $60,208 for vendor payments related to expenses incurred during Fiscal Years 2023 and 2024.

REQUIREMENT

Added authority for the department to use funds for technology or equipment upgrades if they generate efficiency savings or exceed the cost of the upgrades.

Granted authority to escalate headcount for operational needs related to Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds with approval from the Department of Finance and Administration and the State Personnel Board.

Added a mandate that the department maintain accounting and personnel records in the same format and detail as Fiscal Year 2026, and submit the FY 2028 budget request to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee.

Added a prohibition on using general funds to replace federal or special funds that have been withdrawn and are no longer available.

Added a requirement that the State Personnel Board cannot escalate positions or increase the Personal Services total without written approval from the Department of Finance and Administration, which must include proof of new funds.

Added a requirement that none of the appropriated funds be used in violation of IRS Publication 15-A regarding contract employee income reporting.

ELIGIBILITY

Added a requirement that Mississippi Industries for the Blind receive preference when purchasing commodities or equipment if bids are equal in price, quality, and service.

DEFINITION

Added a new provision stating that if the agency's total authorized headcount decreases from FY 2026 to FY 2027, the agency has discretion on which headcounts are removed.

TECHNICAL

Added a new Section 3 subsection clarifying that all Fiscal Year 2026 escalated headcounts are accounted for and shall be converted to authorized time-limited headcounts.

Added a new Section 3 subsection authorizing six new headcounts for the Attorney Family.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 12, 2026 · House Feb 19, 2026

How they voted

51–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 52

Mar 12, 2026

D Democratic18

18 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican34

33 Yea 1

97% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 6, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by Governor

executive

Mar 29, 2026

Lower · Passed

Conference Report Adopted

lower

Mar 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

Conference Report Filed

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed As Amended

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

Amended

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass As Amended

upper

Feb 27, 2026

Committee

Referred To Appropriations

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Introduced

Transmitted To Senate

lower

Feb 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed

lower

Feb 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass

lower

Feb 16, 2026

Committee

Referred To Appropriations C;Appropriations A

lower

1 primary · 8 co-sponsors