Environment (Wildlife)

HB 15 appropriates $19.6 million from general funds and $75.7 million from special funds (including $5.75 million from gasoline taxes) to support Mississippi's Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks for fiscal year 2026. The funds cover the department's operations, including staff salaries, park maintenance, and programs like Project WILD, which receives $125,335 from the Education Enhancement Fund. The bill specifies strict limits on "Personal Services" funding for salaries and staffing headcounts (514 permanent and 51 time-limited positions) to prevent overspending. It requires detailed annual spending reports to the legislature and ensures funds are used only for authorized purposes without replacing federal or other special funds.

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 The bill specifies that general funds cannot replace withdrawn federal or special funds and requires that any matching federal grants be accounted for under the special source funds.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.