This bill reorganizes existing Mississippi budget code sections (27-103-125, 139, 203, 211, 213, and 303) to make them easier to amend in the future. It directs the State Treasurer, with the State Fiscal Officer, to transfer specific funds from the Capital Expense Fund during fiscal year 2027. The bill does not create new policy but consolidates current budget process rules about expenditure limits, revenue estimates, and balanced budget requirements. It affects state budget administration and future legislative amendments to budget code. This is a procedural bill focused on code organization and a specific fund transfer, not substantive policy changes.
This bill revises how Mississippi's public universities can use funds from the 2022 Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) Capital Improvements Fund for facility projects. It adjusts the specific project descriptions (e.g., renovation, construction, or repair details) for allocations at institutions like Alcorn State University, Mississippi State University, and the University of Mississippi Medical Center. The bill requires universities to account for unused funds after four years and directs transfers of certain funds during fiscal year 2027. It does not create new funding but clarifies existing fund usage rules for capital improvements.
SB 2263 requires Mississippi Department of Marine Resources officers to have probable cause before boarding any vessel or stopping a boat. This directly affects marine law enforcement officers who previously could board vessels without probable cause under existing rules. The bill amends two sections of Mississippi law (59-21-127 and 59-23-5) to add this requirement, making it illegal to board or stop a vessel without reasonable suspicion of a boating safety violation. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and does not change other provisions like chemical testing for boating under the influence.
SB 3064 allocates $137,774,071 in state funds to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security for fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027), primarily for operational expenses. It specifically restricts $29,865,891 of these funds to "Personal Services" (salaries, wages, and benefits) for up to 425 authorized positions (379 permanent, 46 time-limited), with strict rules requiring the department to avoid exceeding budgeted personnel costs. The bill mandates that "Vacancy Funding" ($908,823) can only fill unfilled positions from the prior year - not fund raises or promotions - and requires State Personnel Board approval for any salary increases or position escalations. As a funding measure, it does not create new policies but sets procedural limits on how state funds may be spent for department staffing.
SB 3061 appropriates $190,004,192 from the State General Fund and authorizes $2,224,662,021 from patient/student fees and special funds to cover the University of Mississippi Medical Center's (UMMC) operating expenses for fiscal year 2027. The bill requires UMMC to maintain its schools (Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, etc.), provide detailed expenditure reports to the Legislature, and allocate specific funds for rural physician/dentist scholarships, a cancer institute, and a tobacco center. This is a funding measure, not a policy change, directly supporting UMMC's operations and healthcare services across Mississippi.
SB 3070 is a funding bill appropriating $204.5 million ($16.48 million from the General Fund and $188.04 million from the State Treasury) to the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) for fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). The bill specifically limits MDA’s personnel spending to $13.13 million for "Personal Services" (salaries, wages, and fringe benefits), authorizing 142 total positions (106 permanent, 36 time-limited). It requires strict adherence to budgeted headcounts, prohibits using funds for promotions or salary increases beyond appropriations, and mandates compliance with Mississippi’s Variable Compensation Plan for employee pay. The funding directly affects MDA employees and its operational budget, with no new policy changes beyond financial allocation.
SB 3072 appropriates $704.7 million for Mississippi's Department of Mental Health for fiscal year 2027, combining $253.88 million from general funds and $450.85 million from special sources. Key allocations include $2.0 million for mental health training for law enforcement and court liaisons, $1.1 million for physician services at community centers, and $16.8 million for department operations and Medicaid payments. The bill specifies that funds must be used for "Personal Services" like salaries and cannot be diverted to other purposes, with strict limits on annual spending. It directly affects the Department of Mental Health and its ability to operate existing mental health programs and services.
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.
SB 3105 is a funding bill that allocates additional state capital expense funds for specific agencies during fiscal years 2026 and 2027. It provides $0.00 for the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services, $0.00 for the Governor's Office-Division of Medicaid (under the Department of Finance and Administration), $0.00 for the Department of Public Safety, and $1.00 for the Mississippi Board of Medical Licensure. The funds are drawn from existing state capital expense reserves and are intended to cover operational costs for these agencies during the specified fiscal periods. As a procedural appropriations measure, it does not create new policies but adjusts budget allocations for existing state operations.
SB 2409 creates the "Strengthen Mississippi Homes Program" within the Mississippi Department of Insurance to provide financial grants for homeowners and commercial property owners to retrofit structures against hurricane, tornado, and other windstorm damage. The bill increases grant amounts to $15,000 per home, replaces the previous "Comprehensive Hurricane Damage Mitigation Program," and establishes a dedicated "Strengthen Mississippi Homes Fund" funded partly by increased insurance agent fees. Property owners must be insurable, and insurance companies must notify clients about the program within 30 days of filing discount schedules. The program requires the Department of Insurance to set eligibility rules, prioritize grants based on reducing state risk, and report annually on grants awarded and homes retrofitted.
HB 1752 removes a provision requiring Mississippi's state court judges' salaries to automatically adjust every four years based on recommendations from the State Personnel Board. This change affects all state court judges, including Supreme Court justices, Court of Appeals judges, and chancery/circuit court judges. The bill deletes the mechanism that tied future salary increases to the Personnel Board's four-year review process, shifting how salary adjustments would be determined. Current salary levels (e.g., $181,491 for Supreme Court Chief Justice as of 2023) remain unchanged, but future increases would no longer follow this automatic review cycle. The legislation does not alter current salary amounts or funding sources.
HB 1142 amends Mississippi Code § 99-5-25 to allow court clerks to notify bail bond sureties (companies that post bail) about bench warrant forfeitures via U.S. mail or email, in addition to personal service. The bill requires clerks to retain proof of electronic transmission (like email receipts showing date, time, and attachments) and include this with a certificate of service. This change directly affects bail bond companies, streamlining how they receive critical notices about forfeited bonds while maintaining the legal requirement for proper notice. The policy change does not alter forfeiture rules but updates the delivery method for court notices.
