Rep. John Read

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $3,692,008 from general funds and $257,168,829 from special funds (including $3,050,000 from gasoline taxes) for Mississippi's Department of Marine Resources during fiscal year 2027. It directly affects the department's staffing and budgeting, requiring all funds to be used strictly for personnel costs like salaries and fringe benefits, with no transfers to other spending categories. The bill prohibits using vacancy funding for employee raises or promotions and mandates strict adherence to approved staffing levels (108 permanent and 65 time-limited positions). It also requires the department to maintain detailed records for all expenditures and comply with state personnel compensation rules.

Maddy summaryHB 1902 appropriates $572,914 from general funds and $44,328,969 from special funds to cover the State Soil and Water Conservation Commission's administrative expenses and operations for fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). It strictly limits "Personal Services" spending (salaries, wages, and benefits) to $1,076,083, including $90,784 designated for filling authorized vacancies. The bill requires the Commission to adhere to Mississippi’s Variable Compensation Plan, prohibits using general funds to replace other funding sources, and mandates strict budget adherence for personnel costs. This funding supports the Commission’s ongoing work under Mississippi Code § 69-27-1 et seq., directly affecting its staff and operational budget.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $1.477 billion from state funds to cover the Mississippi Department of Transportation's (MDOT) administrative costs and program expenses for fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). It allocates specific amounts for key areas: $1.02 billion for construction, $274 million for maintenance, $64.9 million for administration, $81.6 million for debt service, and $37.5 million for aeronautics/rails. The funds are restricted to authorized uses, including strict limits on salary expenses and prohibitions against using general funds to replace federal funding. This is a routine funding measure, not a policy change.

Maddy summaryHB 1900 appropriates $4,938,517 from the State General Fund and $464,494 from special source funds to cover the Mississippi Public Service Commission’s (PSC) operating expenses for fiscal year 2027 (July 2026-June 2027). The bill specifically allocates $4,372,677 for "Personal Services" (salaries, wages, and fringe benefits) to support 48 permanent and 6 time-limited staff positions, with strict rules preventing use of these funds for promotions or salary increases beyond budgeted amounts. It requires the PSC to comply with Mississippi’s Variable Compensation Plan and mandates the State Personnel Board to monitor spending to ensure it does not exceed the allocated budget or require new funds for FY 2028 without legislative approval. This is a routine funding bill with no policy changes, solely directing how existing budget resources will be used for PSC personnel costs.

Maddy summaryHB 1891 appropriates $21.38 million from general funds and $252.06 million from special funds to support Mississippi's Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for fiscal year 2027. It directly affects DEQ employees and operations by setting strict annual limits on salary and staffing costs, including a cap of 210 permanent and 170 time-limited staff positions. The bill requires the DEQ to maintain strict budget compliance, prohibiting spending that exceeds allocated "Personal Services" funds (covering salaries, wages, and benefits) without approval, and mandates that vacancy funding must only fill unfilled positions - not increase current employees' pay.

Maddy summaryHB 1913 appropriates $4,876,022 from state special funds to cover the State Board of Medical Licensure's expenses for fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). It specifically allocates $3,063,808 for "Personal Services" (salaries, wages, and benefits) to support 32 permanent staff positions, with strict rules preventing fund transfers to other categories or exceeding budgeted headcounts. The bill requires compliance with Mississippi’s Variable Compensation Plan and mandates that "Vacancy Funding" (for unfilled positions) cannot be used for employee salary increases or promotions. It also ties funding to performance targets, including 100% of license renewals processed online and within seven business days. As a procedural appropriation bill, it does not change medical licensure laws but ensures budgetary compliance for the agency’s operations.

Maddy summaryHB 1929 allocates $21.2 million in state funds for the 2027 fiscal year to cover the administrative costs and building maintenance of Mississippi's Public Employees' Retirement System. Specifically, $12.99 million is designated for "Personal Services" (salaries, wages, and fringe benefits for staff), with strict limits preventing increases in total personnel costs without legislative approval. The bill requires that "Vacancy Funding" ($823,007) be used *only* to fill unfilled positions from the previous year, not for salary raises or promotions of current employees. This funding mechanism directly affects retirement system staff and their operational budget, ensuring expenses stay within the approved appropriation.

Maddy summaryHB 1939 provides additional state funding from capital expense funds for specific projects across several state agencies. It allocates $3.5 million for the Department of Public Safety’s new headquarters construction, $2.475 million to cover a court settlement for the Emergency Management Agency, and $2.67 million to fund county emergency management grants. Additional funds include $652,863 for court judge appointments, $4 million for court reporter and trial judge support staff, and $6 million for the Department of Human Services’ income verification software through June 2027. These appropriations cover defined project costs rather than general operations.

Maddy summaryHB 1904 allocates $21 million from general state funds and $86 million from special funds (including $5.75 million from gas tax revenue) to support Mississippi's Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks for fiscal year 2027. The bill specifically directs $125,335 from the Education Enhancement Fund for Project WILD, an environmental education program. It imposes strict limits on spending for "Personal Services" (salaries, wages, and benefits), capping total funds at $44.68 million and requiring the department to stay within authorized headcount levels (515 permanent and 51 temporary positions). The department must report Wildlife Heritage Fund spending to the legislature by September 1 each year.

Maddy summaryHB 1936 appropriates $4,713,259 from the State General Fund and $8,419,652 from special funds to cover the operational costs of the Mississippi Authority for Educational Television (MAET) for fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). The bill specifically restricts $6,548,722 of these funds for "Personal Services" (salaries, wages, and benefits), limiting MAET to 80 permanent and 7 time-limited staff positions while prohibiting the use of these funds for promotions or salary increases without additional approvals. It requires MAET to prioritize maintaining its current educational broadcasting schedule over producing new content and mandates strict adherence to state personnel budget rules, including using "Vacancy Funding" solely to fill unfilled positions from the prior year. The funds cannot replace federal or other special funds used for salaries.