SB 3053 Mississippi Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Appropriation; IHL - General support.

This bill appropriates over $1.67 billion in state funds for Mississippi's eight public universities (Alcorn State, Delta State, Jackson State, Mississippi State, Mississippi University for Women, Mississippi Valley State, University of Mississippi, and University of Southern Mississippi) for fiscal year 2027. It allocates $394.6 million from the general fund for general support, $1.277 billion from federal/student fees for operations, and $1.5 million from the Ayers Endowment for specific university needs. The bill also directs $145,000 for the Governor's School for Gifted Students (requiring statewide high school nominations) and $349,200 for the Teacher Corps program. Additionally, it mandates that off-campus centers receive at least 65% of on-campus student costs without indirect overhead charges.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Feb 24, 2026 Signed Apr 9, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Passed the upper → Current version · 8 edits

MODERATE

The bill was finalized for the Governor with a significant reduction in the total appropriation amount for state universities, dropping from approximately $394.6 million to $379.2 million. The legislation added new requirements for reporting student retention rates and graduation disparities, expanded faculty salary increase funding to include adjuncts, and introduced new grants for opioid treatment and research. Several specific line-item allocations were adjusted, with some funds removed and others reorganized or increased.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include adjunct professors in salary increase provisions and added new mandates for reporting student attainment data and opioid-related initiatives.

FISCAL

The total appropriation for the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning was reduced from $394,626,701.00 to $379,154,701.00.

Salary increase funding was expanded to cover both full-time professors and adjunct professors, with a specific allocation of $12,013,848.00.

New funding was allocated for opioid overdose reversal training and a statewide data repository to track opioid use.

Specific allocations for various university centers and projects were adjusted, including changes to the Delta State University E-Learning Center and the Mississippi University for Women nursing program expansion.

A new $40 million appropriation was added for construction, repair, and renovation projects, including a specific fund for road and parking lot repairs.

Funding for the Delta State University Delta Center for Culture and Learning was removed entirely in the final version.

REQUIREMENT

New reporting requirements were added to mandate an analysis of student attainment, degree completion, and retention rates compared to national standards.

DEFINITION

The definition of eligible faculty for salary increases was modified to explicitly include adjunct professors.

As Introduced → Committee Substitute · 7 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended from its original introduction to a committee substitute version, significantly expanding the scope of appropriations and adding numerous new funding allocations for specific university programs, facilities, and initiatives. The changes include the addition of over 30 new sections detailing specific funding for STEM programs, research centers, capital construction projects, and operational expenses, while also introducing new reporting requirements and performance metrics for the Board of Trustees.

Scope change

The bill's scope was substantially expanded from a general appropriation act to include highly specific allocations for individual universities, specific facilities (such as the DuBard School and various research hubs), and new initiatives like the Mississippi Governor's School for the Gifted and Talented and the Teacher Corps.

FISCAL

Added specific dollar amounts for numerous new initiatives, including $2,000,000 for economic development at four major universities, $900,000 for the Washington Center Internship Program, and over $10 million in reappropriated funds for capital construction and facility repairs.

Added Section 49, which appropriates $2,000 for salary increases for all professors at each campus, to be implemented at the discretion of the university president.

Allocated $20,000,000 in Section 50 for construction and repair/renovation projects across all institutions, distributed based on building square footage and student enrollment.

Replaced the original text of Section 1 with a more detailed appropriation of $394,626,701 that explicitly lists the eight universities and includes provisions for affirmative action plans and repairs.

Added Section 37 authorizing Mississippi Valley State University to provide water and sewer services to existing private structures and charge fees for them, but prohibiting service to new private structures.

REQUIREMENT

Introduced new Section 47 requiring the Board of Trustees to submit detailed reports by July and December 2026 regarding funding methodology, enrollment impacts from population shifts, and strategies to improve graduation rates.

Added Section 14 prohibiting the use of state appropriations or tuition fees to support auxiliary enterprises like intercollegiate athletics unless designated by the board, requiring such enterprises to be self-supporting.

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

How they voted

50–0

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 52

Feb 19, 2026

D Democratic18

17 Yea 1

94% 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 9, 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

Lower · Passed

Passed As Amended

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

Amended

lower

Mar 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass As Amended

lower

Feb 24, 2026

Committee

Referred To Appropriations E;Appropriations A

lower

Feb 24, 2026

Introduced

Transmitted To House

upper

Feb 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed

upper

Feb 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass Comm Sub

upper

Feb 17, 2026

Committee

Referred To Appropriations

upper

1 primary · 6 co-sponsors