HB 1824 appropriates nearly $11.2 million from state funds to cover the operating expenses of the Mississippi Authority for Educational Television for fiscal year 2025. The bill authorizes the agency to maintain a workforce of up to 87 employees, including 80 permanent and 7 time-limited positions, while strictly prohibiting the use of these funds for salary increases or promotions of current staff. Additionally, the legislation mandates that the majority of funding be prioritized for maintaining an existing broadcast schedule of educational and public service programs, with new content production as a secondary goal. The act also establishes specific performance targets for the agency, such as producing a set number of local TV and radio programs and serving a defined number of students through digital education networks. Finally, the bill includes provisions ensuring that funds are not used for public relations activities for other state agencies and that all financial records are kept in a detailed, auditable format.
This bill authorizes the Town of Walnut, Mississippi, to collect a special tax of up to 3% on hotel room rentals and restaurant sales to fund parks and recreation projects. Before the tax can be implemented, the town must hold a public election where at least 60% of voters must approve the measure. The collected funds will be used exclusively for building, maintaining, and operating parks and related facilities, and the bill also allows the town to issue bonds or restructure existing debt using these revenues. Additionally, the town is permitted to lease and lease back property to support its parks and recreation efforts.
HB 1817 is a budget bill that allocates state funds to cover the operating expenses of the Mississippi Legislature and its various committees for the 2025 fiscal year. The legislation provides money to pay salaries, mileage, insurance, and daily allowances for legislators, as well as funding for specific groups such as the Joint Legislative Budget Committee and the Reapportionment Committee. It also sets aside money for the state's share of assessments for organizations like the Southern States Energy Board and the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. Additionally, the bill reauthorizes previously approved funds for the House and Senate, ensuring these resources remain available for their designated purposes.
HB 1797 appropriates approximately $1.8 billion to the Mississippi Department of Human Services for fiscal year 2025, covering both general and special funds. The bill authorizes the hiring of over 1,700 permanent and time-limited employees while establishing strict rules to prevent salary increases for current staff unless new funding is approved. It also mandates that the department prioritize purchases from the Mississippi Industries for the Blind, prohibits using general funds to replace withdrawn federal money, and sets specific performance targets for investigative audits and services for aging adults. Additionally, the legislation requires detailed financial record-keeping, transfers $1 million to the Department of Health for child care licensure, and bans utility allowances for employees living in state-provided housing.
SB 3036 appropriates state funds to cover the operating expenses of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce for fiscal year 2025. The bill allocates nearly $10 million from the State General Fund and approximately $19.6 million from special source funds, which include fees from publications and museum admissions, to support various divisions such as plant industry, fair commissions, and the livestock coliseum. A significant portion of the funding is designated for staffing, authorizing a permanent workforce of 219 positions and a time-limited workforce of 13, while also establishing strict rules to prevent using these funds for salary increases or promotions. Additionally, the legislation sets aside specific amounts for the Beaver Control Program and the Mississippi Egg Marketing Board, and it outlines performance targets for areas like pesticide inspections and museum attendance.
This bill appropriates approximately $21 million to the Mississippi Public Employees' Retirement System for the 2025 fiscal year to cover administrative costs and building operations. The funding authorizes 167 permanent staff positions and establishes strict rules to prevent salary increases for current employees, requiring that any new hires be essential and that no employee falls below the state minimum wage. Specific portions of the money are designated for computer system upgrades, building repairs, and purchasing service pins for employees. The legislation also mandates that the system's board meetings be live webcast and recorded, with archives posted online within 48 hours, and requires the agency to give purchasing preference to the Mississippi Industries for the Blind. Additionally, rental income from the system's building must be deposited into a dedicated maintenance fund.
This bill appropriates approximately $41 million in state and special funds to cover the expenses of the Mississippi Attorney General's Office for fiscal year 2025. The legislation authorizes the hiring of 88 permanent and 210 time-limited full-time positions while establishing strict rules to prevent using these funds for salary increases or promotions of existing staff. It also sets specific performance targets for the office, such as maintaining high success rates in criminal and civil cases, responding to consumer complaints within five days, and completing legal opinions within a 30-day window. Additionally, the bill requires the agency to maintain detailed accounting records and submit future budget requests in a standardized format to ensure fiscal accountability.
This bill appropriates state funds to cover the operating expenses of the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services and the Wireless Communication Commission for the 2025 fiscal year. It authorizes the hiring of 132 permanent staff positions for the IT department and 10 for the Wireless Communication Commission, while establishing strict rules to prevent using these funds for salary increases or promotions of existing employees. The legislation also permits a limited transfer of up to $750,000 to help manage cash flow within the IT department's revolving fund and requires that all contracts follow state procurement laws.
This bill appropriates over $691 million in state and special funds to support the Mississippi Department of Mental Health for the 2025 fiscal year. The funding authorizes the hiring of nearly 6,250 permanent and time-limited staff members while establishing strict rules to prevent salary increases for current employees unless new positions are added. A significant portion of the money is designated for specific programs, including Medicaid payments, Alzheimer's services, crisis centers, and drug abuse education. The legislation also sets performance targets for the department, such as increasing community-based care and expanding access to crisis response teams.
This bill extends the legal authority for the Boards of Supervisors in Alcorn, Benton, Marshall, Prentiss, Tippah, and Tishomingo Counties to contribute up to $150,000 each to Northeast Mississippi Community Services, Inc. The funds provided by these county boards are intended to serve as matching contributions that allow the community action agency to secure additional grants from state or federal sources. By amending existing laws, the legislation updates the expiration date for this funding authority from July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2028.
This bill mandates that public secondary schools in Mississippi establish and maintain driver education and training programs starting in the 2026-2027 school year. The curriculum must include classroom and behind-the-wheel instruction covering topics such as distracted driving, alcohol and drug safety, organ donation, litter laws, and how to respond to law enforcement stops. Students enrolled in these courses will not need a learner's permit or driver's license to participate, and upon completion, they will receive a certificate sent to the Department of Public Safety. Additionally, the bill requires the state to report annual crash and fatality statistics, particularly for teenage drivers, and allows the Department of Public Safety to create rules for drivers under 18 during their first year of licensure.
This bill authorizes the Lafayette County Board of Supervisors in Mississippi to give up to $250,000 per year to the Oxford-Lafayette Economic Development Foundation. The funds can be used to support local economic development projects and cover the foundation's administrative costs. The county has the flexibility to decide how to use the money within these limits, drawing from any available county funds. This funding authority will automatically end on July 1, 2028, unless renewed by future legislation.
