Sen. Briggs Hopson

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $73.47 million total for Mississippi State University's College of Veterinary Medicine for fiscal year 2026. It allocates $20.57 million from general funds for operations and $52.90 million from special sources (including $750,000 from the Education Enhancement Fund), specifically funding the Wise Center construction ($17.5 million), rural veterinarian scholarships ($120,000), and Chronic Wasting Disease testing ($125,000). The bill requires the college to track performance metrics like 95% graduation pass rates on vet licensing exams and 40,000 annual animal clinic visits. It mandates efficient spending and reporting to the legislature on these targets.

Maddy summarySB 2047 reauthorizes the expenditure of $68.7 million in unspent Gulf Coast Restoration Funds for specific coastal restoration and development projects in Mississippi. The bill directs funds to cities (like Gulfport, Long Beach, and Ocean Springs), counties (including Pearl River and Harrison), redevelopment authorities, universities (such as Mississippi State University), and organizations for projects including harbor restoration, road improvements, downtown revitalization, and economic development sites. It does not create new funding but reallocates leftover funds from prior fiscal years to continue previously authorized projects, such as the Long Beach Harbor Complex Restoration and the Mississippi Cyber Center. The bill was signed into law by the governor on June 2, 2025, and applies to fiscal year 2026.

Maddy summarySB 2002 is a funding bill that allocates $86.1 million (from state general and special funds) to support 15 specific research centers and programs at Mississippi's public universities for fiscal year 2026. It directly affects institutions like the Mississippi State Chemical Laboratory, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, Mississippi Law Research Institute, and Jackson State University's Urban Research Center. The bill specifies exact dollar amounts for each program, such as $8.6 million for the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory and $5.4 million for the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences. This is a routine appropriations bill that provides operating funds for existing university research initiatives, not a policy change.

Maddy summarySB 2003 appropriates $7,887,984 from the State General Fund and $335,000 from the Education Enhancement Fund to support Alcorn State University's agricultural research, extension, and land-grant programs for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). The funds directly support specific programs, including $165,000 for the Poultry Sciences Research Center and $715,000 for broader agricultural research (covering poultry, animal, and environmental science). The bill specifies that general funds cannot replace withdrawn federal or special funds and requires compliance with state budgeting rules. It was signed into law by the governor on June 4, 2025, and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 2018 appropriates $330,227 from Mississippi’s state treasury to fund the State Board of Funeral Services for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It specifically requires $135,614 of this amount to cover only staff salaries, wages, and benefits for the board’s two authorized positions, with strict rules preventing use for promotions, title changes, or exceeding budget limits. The bill mandates detailed accounting of all expenditures and prohibits transferring funds to other categories or using them to replace withdrawn federal funds. It also requires the board to comply with Mississippi’s salary plans and reporting standards, and gives preference to the Mississippi Industries for the Blind for certain purchases. This is a routine budget allocation with no policy changes, directly affecting the board’s staffing and financial operations.

Maddy summarySB 2039 allocates $6,164,999 in state funds for the Mississippi Workers' Compensation Commission's operations during fiscal year 2026, including $5,000,826 specifically for employee salaries and benefits. The bill strictly limits "Personal Services" spending to $5.00M (covering salaries, fringe benefits, and vacancy funding for 55 authorized positions) and requires the Commission to maintain detailed records and meet specific performance targets, such as resolving 900 cases within three months. It also appropriates $25,000 for the Second Injury Fund and mandates a safety training contract with the private sector. This is a funding bill with no new policy provisions, solely authorizing budgeted expenditures for the Commission's existing responsibilities.

Maddy summarySB 2006 appropriates $6,262,007 from the State General Fund and $1,369,899 from special sources (including $450,000 from the Education Enhancement Fund) to cover the operating and maintenance costs of Mississippi State University's Forest and Wildlife Research Center for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). The bill specifies that general funds cannot replace withdrawn federal or special funds and requires that any matching federal grants be accounted for under the special source funds. It also reappropriates $1,000,000 from the Capital Expense Fund for Deer Lab renovations, subject to prior unexpended balances. This is a straightforward funding measure with no policy changes, directly affecting the research center’s operations.

Maddy summarySB 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.

Maddy summarySB 2035 appropriates $5.67 million from the General Fund and $3.63 million from special funds to cover the State Veterans Affairs Board's salaries and operations for fiscal year 2026. It also allocates $6.36 million from the General Fund and $54.54 million from special funds to support Mississippi State Veterans Homes operations and staff salaries during the same period. The bill specifies exact funding amounts for "Personal Services" (covering salaries and benefits) and sets authorized headcounts (40 permanent and 25 time-limited positions for the Board; 265 permanent and 317 time-limited for Veterans Homes), with strict rules preventing fund transfers or salary increases beyond approved amounts.

Maddy summarySB 2051 amends Mississippi's fiscal 2025 budget to redirect $1.4 million from the State Department of Education's (MDE) existing appropriation specifically for the continuation of the current school safety platform. This bill does not create new programs but ensures a designated sum remains available for ongoing school safety technology and services. The funding revision applies directly to MDE's budget allocation for school safety operations. The bill passed the legislature on May 28, 2025, but ultimately died in committee.