Rep. Scott Bounds

Maddy summaryHB 1728 appropriates $68,451,691 for the Mississippi State Port Authority at Gulfport to cover its operating expenses during fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). It directly affects the Port Authority by funding its operations, including authorizing 39 permanent staff positions and $135,000 for overtime or standby pay. Key provisions require the Port Authority to maintain detailed financial records, prioritize purchases from Mississippi Industries for the Blind when bids are equal, and restrict funds to port operations only. The bill ensures compliance with state budget laws and mandates reporting similar to the previous fiscal year.

Maddy summaryHB 1735 allocates $566,298 from the state general fund and $37,484,521 from a special fund to cover the administrative costs and operations of Mississippi's State Soil and Water Conservation Commission for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). The bill authorizes 9 permanent and 6 time-limited staff positions to carry out existing programs under Mississippi Code § 69-27-1 et seq. It includes specific rules for personnel spending, requiring funds to cover salaries and positions without exceeding prior-year allocations unless new programs are approved. This is a funding bill for the Commission’s current operations, not a policy change.

Maddy summaryHB 1733 appropriates $5,048,950 from the State General Fund and $464,494 from a special fund to cover the Mississippi Public Service Commission's (PSC) operational expenses for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). The bill authorizes 51 permanent and 6 time-limited positions for the PSC and establishes specific performance targets, including resolving utility complaints within three days and handling 142 utility dockets annually. It restricts fund usage for salary increases of current employees (allowing only new hires for essential roles) and requires the PSC to report on meeting performance metrics to the legislature. The PSC must also maintain detailed financial records and use funds exclusively for regulatory duties as defined by state law.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $269,654 from the State General Fund and $108,294 from a special fund to cover the Grand Gulf Military Monument Commission's operational costs for fiscal year 2026, including funding for 7 permanent staff positions. It requires strict accounting practices, prohibits using state funds to replace federal funding, and mandates preference for Mississippi Industries for the Blind in purchasing decisions. The commission must spend funds only for monument maintenance within the allocated amounts and adhere to specific rules about personnel expenditures and capital fund reappropriation. The bill does not create new policies but provides dedicated funding for the existing commission's operations.

Maddy summaryHB 1737 appropriates $17.3 million from Mississippi's General Fund and $73.8 million from dedicated sources (including $5.75 million from gasoline taxes) to fund the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks for fiscal year 2026. It authorizes 518 permanent and 42 temporary positions, with strict rules prohibiting the use of funds for salary increases beyond budgeted amounts or to replace federal funds. The bill requires the department to submit detailed spending reports for Wildlife Heritage funds by September 1 each year and mandates that personnel expenditures not exceed projections from the Legislative Budget Office. This funding supports conservation operations, parks maintenance, and programs like Project WILD, directly affecting the department's ability to manage natural resources and public facilities.

Maddy summaryHB 1724 allocates $16.17 million from the State General Fund and $251.59 million from special funds to support Mississippi's Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for fiscal year 2026. The bill authorizes 212 permanent and 165 temporary staff positions while prohibiting the use of funds for salary increases beyond budgeted levels, requiring strict accounting and performance reporting. It mandates the DEQ to meet specific environmental targets, including air/water quality compliance rates (e.g., 85% of air facilities in compliance, 56% of waters meeting quality standards) and waste/permit processing timelines. The funds are designated for DEQ operations, staffing, and environmental programs, with reporting requirements tied to the agency’s budget submission.

Maddy summaryHB 1723 appropriates $630,147 for the State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors to cover its fiscal year 2026 expenses (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). It authorizes five permanent positions and includes strict rules limiting salary increases, requiring compliance with budget laws, and prioritizing Mississippi Industries for the Blind in purchasing. This procedural bill funds existing board operations without creating new policies or regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 1738 appropriates $27,714,782 for the Yellow Creek State Inland Port Authority's operations during fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). The bill authorizes 17 staff positions, allocates $15 million for capital projects, and requires the Authority to maintain detailed financial records comparable to its 2025 reporting. It mandates that Mississippi Industries for the Blind receive procurement preference for goods/equipment when bids are equal, and specifies that funds must comply with state budget laws prohibiting overspending. The funding becomes effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1730 appropriates $6,631,277 from special funds to cover the State Oil and Gas Board's operating expenses for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It directly affects the Oil and Gas Board staff (authorizing 35 permanent positions) and requires strict adherence to budget limits for personnel costs, prohibiting salary increases or promotions without new funding. Key provisions include mandating that funds not exceed prior-year spending unless authorized by the Legislature, ensuring compliance with state personnel rules, and requiring the Board to maintain detailed financial records matching fiscal year 2025 standards. The bill also includes minor provisions favoring Mississippi Industries for the Blind in procurement and restricting fund use to avoid violating federal reporting rules.

Maddy summaryHB 1726 appropriates $17.27 million from the State General Fund and $13.50 million from a special fund to support the Mississippi State Forestry Commission for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). The bill authorizes 246 permanent and 7 temporary positions, mandates strict budget adherence (including prohibiting salary increases without new funds), and requires the Commission to track performance metrics like forest suppression time (target: 2.8 hours) and acres burned under prescribed burns (target: 15,000 acres). It also directs $200,000 toward the Agriculture Department’s beaver control program and requires all funds to comply with state accounting rules and procurement preferences for Mississippi Industries for the Blind. The Commission must submit detailed budget requests for 2027 based on these performance targets.