Rep. John Read

Maddy summaryHB 8 appropriates $257.28 million (including $3.05 million from gasoline taxes) and $3.73 million in general funds for Mississippi's Department of Marine Resources for fiscal year 2026, covering operations, personnel, and tidelands projects. It specifically allocates $6.39 million for tidelands projects (including $3.84 million for management and $1.55 million for bond repayment), with strict rules limiting how personal services funds can be used for salaries, vacancies, or promotions. The bill directly affects the department's budget execution and requires detailed accounting of all funds.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $674,227 in state funds for the Mississippi Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors to cover its expenses during fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). The funds specifically support staff salaries and benefits ($468,557), including $139,036 designated to fill open positions (vacancy funding) and authorizing one new customer service role. It strictly limits spending to prevent exceeding budgeted amounts for personnel costs and requires compliance with state salary guidelines. The board must maintain detailed financial records and submit future budget requests in a standardized format.

Maddy summaryHB 25 appropriates $5,308,814 from special funds to the Mississippi Board of Nursing for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It directly funds the board’s operations, including $2.9 million for staff salaries and positions, $1.56 million for the Office of Nursing Workforce (administering nursing education programs), and $105,000 for the Prescription Monitoring Program. The bill specifies that funds must be used for authorized personnel costs and cannot replace federal funding, with strict rules to prevent exceeding budgeted amounts for salaries. It requires the board to maintain detailed financial records and aligns with existing programs like the Medical Cannabis Act implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 5 appropriates over $31 million in state funds for Mississippi's State Forestry Commission during fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026), split between $17.75 million from the General Fund and $13.67 million from special source funds. The bill directly affects the commission’s 266 authorized positions (259 permanent, 7 time-limited) by restricting $17.33 million to "Personal Services" (salaries, benefits, and vacancy funding for unfilled roles), with strict limits on annualized personnel costs. It mandates the commission maintain detailed financial records and achieve specific performance targets, such as suppressing forest fires within 2 hours and managing 35,000 acres for forest development. The bill is procedural, focused solely on funding allocation and budget compliance, with no new policy changes.

Maddy summaryHB 33 allocates $2,202,447 in state funding for Mississippi's Office of Capital Post-Conviction Counsel for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). The bill authorizes nine permanent staff positions to provide legal representation for individuals convicted of capital offenses facing execution. This funding ensures the office can continue its work representing death row inmates during post-conviction appeals, with strict accounting requirements to track expenditures.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $1.8 million from state funds to cover the Mississippi Real Estate Commission's operating expenses for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It specifically allocates $1.1 million for "Personal Services" (employee salaries, wages, and benefits), with strict rules preventing use for promotions, title changes, or exceeding salary caps set by the State Personnel Board. The Commission must maintain detailed records of all spending and cannot increase headcount or salaries without new legislative funding. This funding directly affects the Commission's staff and budget management for licensing and regulatory activities.

Maddy summaryHB 26 appropriates $256,272 from state special funds to cover the operating costs of Mississippi's State Board of Optometry for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). The bill requires the Board to maintain detailed financial records matching its 2025 reporting standards and mandates that funds be spent strictly within the allocated amount, per state budget laws. This procedural funding measure directly supports the Board's administrative operations but does not change optometry licensing rules or create new requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 31 appropriates $174,135 from state funds for the Mississippi Athletic Commission's 2025-2026 budget, specifically designating $57,690 for employee salaries and benefits for one permanent position. The bill restricts these funds to "Personal Services" (salaries, wages, and fringe benefits) and requires strict adherence to the state's Variable Compensation Plan, preventing salary reductions below board-established minimums. It prohibits using these funds for promotions, title changes, or replacing federal funds, and mandates that any new hiring must be approved with additional funding. The commission must maintain detailed records and submit budget requests in the same format used for the prior fiscal year.

Maddy summaryHB 27 appropriates $354,726 from state funds to cover the Mississippi State Board of Physical Therapy’s operating expenses for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). The bill specifically allocates $221,771 for "Personal Services" (employee salaries, benefits, and vacancy funding), with strict rules prohibiting use for promotions, salary increases, or replacing federal funds. It requires the Board to maintain detailed financial records and ensures funds are used only within the authorized budget limits, including compliance with state personnel compensation rules.

Maddy summaryHB 7 appropriates $78,539,426 for the Mississippi State Port Authority at Gulfport to cover its operations during fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). The bill authorizes 39 permanent staff positions, allocates $135,000 for overtime/pay, and requires the port authority to prioritize contracts with Mississippi Industries for the Blind when bids are equal. It mandates strict accounting records matching 2025 standards and prohibits using state funds to replace federal or special funds. The bill also restricts spending to direct port operations and requires compliance with state budget laws.