Transportation

SB 2017 appropriates $235.7 million for Mississippi's Department of Transportation's Office of State Aid Road Construction for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It allocates $5.3 million specifically for staff salaries and filling open positions (including $392,000 for "vacancy funding"), with strict limits to prevent exceeding budgeted personnel costs. Additionally, $55 million is dedicated to replacing structurally deficient bridges under the Local System Bridge Program. The bill requires detailed accounting of all funds and mandates that administrative costs stay below 4% of construction spending.

HB 45 appropriates $1.48 billion from state funds to the Mississippi Department of Transportation for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It allocates $194.2 million specifically for salaries, benefits, and approved vacancies ("Personal Services"), with strict rules preventing salary reductions below state board minimums and requiring unused "Vacancy Funding" to fill unfilled positions rather than raise existing salaries. The bill also directs $1.02 billion for construction, $274.6 million for maintenance, $81.8 million for debt service, and $37.5 million for aeronautics/rails, plus $650,000 to the Agriculture Department for beaver control and $5 million to Public Safety for commercial truck enforcement. This is a routine funding measure for ongoing transportation operations, not a new policy.

HB 16 approves $30,185,481 in state funds for the Yellow Creek State Inland Port Authority to cover its fiscal year 2026 expenses (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). It allocates $15 million for capital projects and $50,000 for overtime pay, while requiring the authority to maintain detailed financial records and give preference to Mississippi Industries for the Blind in purchasing decisions. The bill, signed into law on June 4, 2025, is a funding appropriation with no new policy provisions.