HB 1940: Appropriations; additional appropriations for FY26 & FY27. - Mississippi

As Passed the lower → Current version · 15 edits

MAJOR

The Senate substantially expanded this additional appropriation bill, adding funding for seven new agencies (Department of Public Safety, Emergency Management Agency, Administrative Office of Courts, Department of Marine Resources, Board of Examiners for Social Workers, Department of Human Services, and Office of Student Financial Aid) while removing three education appropriations from the General Fund. The Attorney General's settlement fund was increased nearly eight-fold to over $3 million, and a new $1.5 million appropriation for human trafficking victim services was added.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded significantly from six agencies to thirteen, adding the Department of Public Safety, Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, Administrative Office of Courts, Department of Marine Resources, Board of Examiners for Social Workers and Marriage and Family Therapists, Department of Human Services, and Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid. Three education-related General Fund appropriations totaling $12,600,600 were removed entirely.

FISCAL

Attorney General settlement/legal fund (Section 1) increased from $394,000 to $3,018,500, driven by two new large settlements: a $2,475,000 settlement (Civil Action No. 25CI1:23-cv-00204-WLK) and a $149,500 settlement for two federal cases.

New Section 3 appropriates $1,500,000 from the Capital Expense Fund to the Attorney General for allowable expenses for Victims of Human Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation under Sections 97-3-54.10 through 97-3-54.13.

New Section 4 appropriates $3,529,925 to the Department of Public Safety for construction and furnishing of its headquarters.

Bolton Building appropriation reduced from $8,000,000 (original Section 4) to $6,000,000 (new Section 5) for the Department of Finance and Administration.

New Sections 7 and 8 appropriate a combined $3,988,859 to the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency to replace lost Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) funding - $1,315,990 for agency operations and salaries, and $2,672,869 distributed proportionally to counties.

New Sections 9 and 10 appropriate a combined $4,796,572 to the Administrative Office of Courts - $4,000,000 for court reporters and trial judge support staff, and $796,572 for trial judge appointments and terminal leave payments.

New Section 12 appropriates $5,309,560 from the Tidelands Fund to the Department of Marine Resources for prior year Tidelands projects.

New Sections 15 and 16 appropriate a combined $6,000,000 to the Department of Human Services ($4,500,000 from Capital Expense Fund and $1,500,000 from State Treasury) for income verification software.

New Section 18 appropriates $5,100,000 from special source funds to the Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid for Higher Education Legislative Plan Grant (HELP), Mississippi Resident Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG), and Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant (MESG).

New Section 14 appropriates $50,000 to the Board of Examiners for Social Workers and Marriage and Family Therapists for licensing system upgrades and maintenance.

Removed $9,000,000 General Fund appropriation for the Adolescent Literacy Initiative (original Section 10).

Removed $3,480,000 General Fund appropriation for the Mississippi Math Act / Moving Mathematics in Mississippi Program (original Section 11).

Removed $120,600 General Fund appropriation for financial literacy curriculum in Grades 6-8 (original Section 12).

SCOPE

The Mississippi Authority for Educational Television ($149,500) is no longer a recipient; that settlement amount was folded into the Attorney General's Section 1(h).

TECHNICAL

Section 19 (payment provision) added the phrase 'not otherwise appropriated' to clarify that funds must be uncommitted before disbursement.

Committee Substitute → As Passed the lower · 5 edits

MODERATE

The House added three new General Fund appropriations totaling $12,600,600 for the Department of Education, all tied to provisions created in the House amendment to Senate Bill 2294. The bill title was also updated to reflect that General Funds are now a funding source alongside Capital Expense, Education Enhancement, and Special Funds. The remaining changes are minor formatting adjustments to line breaks.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include General Fund appropriations for three new education programs (Adolescent Literacy Initiative, Mississippi Math Act, and financial literacy curriculum), all originating from amendments made to SB 2294 during the same session. Total new funding added is $12,600,600.

FISCAL

New Section 10 appropriates $9,000,000 from the State General Fund for FY 2026-2027 to implement and operate the Adolescent Literacy Initiative created in the House amendment to SB 2294.

New Section 11 appropriates $3,480,000 from the State General Fund for FY 2026-2027 to implement and operate the Mississippi Math Act, including the Moving Mathematics in Mississippi Program, created in the House amendment to SB 2294.

New Section 12 appropriates $120,600 from the State General Fund for FY 2026-2027 to incorporate financial literacy components into existing Grades 6-8 curriculum, as required by the House amendment to SB 2294.

SCOPE

The bill title was changed to add 'GENERAL FUNDS' as a funding source, expanding the types of funds the act can draw from beyond just Capital Expense, Education Enhancement, and Special Funds.

TECHNICAL

New Section 13 adds a standard payment provision requiring the State Treasurer to pay appropriations via warrants issued by the State Fiscal Officer upon requisitions signed by proper officers.

As Introduced → Committee Substitute · 8 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended from 'As Introduced' to 'Committee Substitute' to reorganize sections, increase funding amounts for several legal cases, and add new appropriations for the Department of Finance and Administration. Key changes include increasing the Attorney General's 2025-2026 appropriation from $294,000 to $394,000, adding a new $8 million appropriation for the Department of Finance and Administration, and renumbering sections to accommodate these additions.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include additional funding categories and increased amounts for several existing legal cases and departmental expenses.

FISCAL

Increased the Attorney General's 2025-2026 appropriation from $294,000 to $394,000

Added a new $8,000,000 appropriation for the Department of Finance and Administration for 2026-2027

Added a new $1,250,000 appropriation for the Department of Finance and Administration for 2026-2027

Added new legal case funding items including AbbVie Inc., AstraZeneca, Express Scripts, and Arkela Lewis cases

Removed the Mississippi Semiquincentennial Commission appropriation from Section 5

Added $25,000 for Mississippi Board of Medical Licensure for 2025-2026

Added $149,500 for Mississippi Authority for Educational Television for 2025-2026

STRUCTURE

Reorganized and renumbered sections to accommodate new funding categories

Appropriations; additional appropriations for FY26 & FY27.

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