Education

SB 2002 is a funding bill that allocates $86.1 million (from state general and special funds) to support 15 specific research centers and programs at Mississippi's public universities for fiscal year 2026. It directly affects institutions like the Mississippi State Chemical Laboratory, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, Mississippi Law Research Institute, and Jackson State University's Urban Research Center. The bill specifies exact dollar amounts for each program, such as $8.6 million for the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory and $5.4 million for the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences. This is a routine appropriations bill that provides operating funds for existing university research initiatives, not a policy change.

SB 2003 appropriates $7,887,984 from the State General Fund and $335,000 from the Education Enhancement Fund to support Alcorn State University's agricultural research, extension, and land-grant programs for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). The funds directly support specific programs, including $165,000 for the Poultry Sciences Research Center and $715,000 for broader agricultural research (covering poultry, animal, and environmental science). The bill specifies that general funds cannot replace withdrawn federal or special funds and requires compliance with state budgeting rules. It was signed into law by the governor on June 4, 2025, and takes effect July 1, 2025.

SB 2006 appropriates $6,262,007 from the State General Fund and $1,369,899 from special sources (including $450,000 from the Education Enhancement Fund) to cover the operating and maintenance costs of Mississippi State University's Forest and Wildlife Research Center for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). The bill specifies that general funds cannot replace withdrawn federal or special funds and requires that any matching federal grants be accounted for under the special source funds. It also reappropriates $1,000,000 from the Capital Expense Fund for Deer Lab renovations, subject to prior unexpended balances. This is a straightforward funding measure with no policy changes, directly affecting the research center’s operations.