Labor & Employment

HB 20 appropriates $92.9 million from general funds and $1.578 billion from special funds to the Mississippi Department of Human Services (DHS) for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026), covering operational expenses. It restricts spending to authorized duties under state/federal law and mandates strict limits on "Personal Services" funds (covering salaries, benefits, and vacancy funding totaling $113.9 million), requiring DHS to maintain headcount levels and avoid exceeding budgeted amounts for personnel costs. The bill also directs $1 million from DHS special funds to the Department of Health’s Child Care Licensure Program by July 31, 2025. This funding measure directly affects DHS’s ability to operate its programs, including child care services, by allocating specific resources for personnel and agency expenses.

HB 21 appropriates $7,384,650 (including $7,084,650 from general funds and $300,000 from special funds) to cover the State Fire Academy's expenses for fiscal year 2026. The bill specifically restricts $5.3 million to "Personal Services" (employee salaries, wages, and benefits) for 62 authorized positions, requiring compliance with Mississippi's salary rules and preventing funds from being used for promotions or salary increases beyond the appropriation. It mandates training 8,100 students at an average cost of $1,151.60 per student and requires detailed financial reporting to the legislature. The funding directly affects the State Fire Academy's operations and staff compensation.

This bill appropriates $23.88 million from state funds for Mississippi's Public Employees' Retirement System during fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It specifically allocates $12.99 million for employee salaries, benefits, and filling 168 authorized positions (including one new "Retirement Benefits" role), with $731,871 reserved exclusively for filling unfilled vacancies - not for promotions or salary increases. The bill strictly prohibits exceeding these funds for personnel costs, requires maintaining detailed financial records matching prior years, and establishes a separate fund for building maintenance using rental income from the system's Jackson office. It directly affects Retirement System staff and their operational budgeting.

SB 2048 reappropiates unspent funds from Mississippi's Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund to specific state agencies for fiscal year 2026. It directs $37.6 million to the Office of Workforce Development, $358.7 million to the Department of Environmental Quality for water infrastructure grants, and $295.4 million to the State Department of Health for rural water projects, among other allocations. All funds must stay within their originally authorized purposes and cannot exceed unexpended balances as of June 30, 2025. The bill continues existing pandemic recovery programs without creating new funding or changing program objectives.