HB 19 appropriates $597 million from state funds for Mississippi's Department of Health operations during fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It allocates specific sums to critical programs, including $34 million for the Trauma Care System (covering hospitals in Mississippi and select out-of-state partners), $20 million from the Tobacco Control Fund for cancer programs and school nurse initiatives, and $7 million for targeted health disparity and maternal care programs. The bill also sets strict limits on "Personal Services" funding (salaries and benefits) for 2,083 authorized positions. The legislation passed the legislature but was partially vetoed by the governor on June 19, 2025.
SB 2049 adjusts state budget allocations by transferring specific funds between accounts and creating new designated funds. It directs $18 million from the Capital Expense Fund to the Mississippi State University Veterinary School Fund for campus renovations, transfers $2.5 million to create a Mississippi Veteran's Home Improvement Fund for a new Rankin County facility, and establishes a United States Fire Insurance Company Settlement Fund using existing funds. The bill also corrects a reference to the 2022 Emergency Road and Bridge Fund, repeals the March 2023 Storm Housing Mission Fund, and reallocates over $820 million across 12 other funds for infrastructure, healthcare, and disaster programs. This is a procedural budget adjustment, not a new policy, focusing solely on fund management.
HB 48 redirects $1.4 million in the FY2025 state education budget to continue Mississippi's existing school safety platform. The bill specifically revises an appropriation section to ensure this funding remains available for the current safety system, rather than for other purposes. This change affects Mississippi public schools by maintaining their current safety infrastructure funding without altering safety requirements or creating new programs. The bill passed the legislature and was signed into law by the governor in June 2025.
HB 41 appropriates $1.6 million from general funds and $6.49 million from special funds (including $1.49 million from the Education Enhancement Fund) to cover the Mississippi Arts Commission's expenses for fiscal year 2026. The bill specifically allocates $1.49 million to fund arts education programs in public schools, including teacher training, grants, and the "Whole Schools Initiative." It strictly limits $1.098 million of the total funds to "Personal Services" (salaries, benefits, and vacancy funding for staff), prohibiting use for promotions or salary increases beyond approved headcounts. The Commission must maintain detailed financial records and ensure funds are spent only as specified, directly affecting its staff and public school arts programs.
HB 43 appropriates $4,713,545 from general funds and $9,921,012 from special funds (including $2,118,966 from the Education Enhancement Fund) to cover the Mississippi Authority for Educational Television's (MAET) expenses for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). The bill specifically restricts $6,550,368 of these funds for "Personal Services" (salaries, wages, benefits, and vacancy funding), limiting MAET to 87 total authorized positions (80 permanent, 7 time-limited) and prohibiting use for public relations or replacing federal funds. It requires MAET to maintain detailed financial records matching its 2025 reporting standards and mandates that any 2027 budget request follow the same format. This is a routine budget appropriation bill, now law after passing the legislature and being signed by the governor on June 2, 2025.
SB 2051 amends Mississippi's fiscal 2025 budget to redirect $1.4 million from the State Department of Education's (MDE) existing appropriation specifically for the continuation of the current school safety platform. This bill does not create new programs but ensures a designated sum remains available for ongoing school safety technology and services. The funding revision applies directly to MDE's budget allocation for school safety operations. The bill passed the legislature on May 28, 2025, but ultimately died in committee.
