Sen. Jeff Tate

Maddy summarySB 3027 appropriates $200,296 from state funds to cover the Mississippi State Board of Veterinary Examiners' expenses for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). The bill requires the Board to maintain detailed financial records comparable to its 2025 reporting and mandates that purchases prioritize Mississippi Industries for the Blind when bids are equal. It also specifies that state funds cannot replace withdrawn federal or special funds for salaries. This procedural funding bill directly affects the Board’s operations and administrative processes.

Maddy summarySB 3024 appropriates $378,711 in state funds to cover the Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors' expenses for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). The bill specifically allocates $100,000 toward updating the board's Licensing Management System. It requires the board to maintain detailed financial records comparable to previous years and mandates that funds be used in compliance with state budget laws and procurement preferences for Mississippi Industries for the Blind. This is a funding measure, not a policy change, directly affecting the board's operations and licensing processes for professional counselors.

Maddy summarySB 3038 appropriates $5,350,112 from the State General Fund to cover the operating costs of Mississippi's State Personnel Board for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). The bill directly affects state employees and agencies by funding personnel positions (46 permanent roles) and strictly prohibiting the use of these funds for salary increases, promotions, or title changes for current staff. Key provisions require the Personnel Board to publish projected payroll costs, ensure expenditures don’t exceed budgeted amounts, and mandate that any new salary actions require additional funding approval. The bill also includes administrative requirements for record-keeping and ensures funds comply with existing state budget laws and IRS reporting rules for contract employees.

Maddy summarySB 3040 allocates $5.67 million from the General Fund and $3.19 million from special funds to cover the operational costs and staff salaries of the State Veterans Affairs Board for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It also provides $6.36 million from the General Fund and $48.53 million from special funds to support the Mississippi State Veterans Homes’ operations. Additionally, $250,000 is specifically designated to assist indigent and low-income veterans and eligible surviving spouses (under the "Hilton R. 'Jack' Vance Act of 1997"), retroactively covering prior eligibility periods. The bill focuses on funding existing programs without creating new policies or mandates.

Maddy summarySB 3039 appropriates $9.5 million from the State General Fund and $157 million from specific military funds to cover the Mississippi National Guard's operational expenses for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). Key allocations include $2.3 million for the Youth Challenge Program at Camp Shelby, $662,778 for the Armed Forces Military Museum, and $4 million from the Education Enhancement Fund for the State Education Assistance Program. The bill prohibits using general funds to reimburse National Guard members for training costs (requiring federal funds instead) and mandates annual reporting on fund transfers to special military accounts. It also directs $1.6 million for Youth Challenge Academies renovations and prioritizes Mississippi Industries for the Blind in procurement.

Maddy summarySB 3026 appropriates $4.3 million from state funds to cover the Mississippi State Board of Public Contractors' operating expenses for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). The bill authorizes 18 permanent staff positions and includes strict rules: funds cannot increase salaries for current employees (only for new hires), must maintain minimum salary levels, and allocates $2.3 million specifically for enforcement, collections, and administrative costs related to contractor fines. It also requires the Board to prioritize purchasing from Mississippi Industries for the Blind when bids are equal. This is a funding bill with no new policy changes, solely directing how existing state funds will be spent.

Maddy summarySB 3035 appropriates $1,768,035 from the State General Fund and $1,119,460 from special funds to cover the operating costs of the Mississippi Board of Animal Health for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). The bill authorizes 23 permanent and 5 time-limited staff positions, with strict conditions requiring funds to cover personnel expenses without increasing salaries for current employees or exceeding prior-year budgets. It mandates detailed accounting records and specifies that $250,000 must be used for animal disease outbreak response under existing law. This is a funding measure for the Board’s existing operations, not a new policy.

Maddy summarySB 2968 changes how Mississippi calculates property taxes for rural agricultural structures like barns and poultry houses (excluding homes). It requires revaluing structures appraised before 2025 and mandates a fixed 7% annual depreciation rate for all rural structures after initial appraisal. Poultry houses have specific rules: their value cannot drop below 20% of original value, and a 45% economic obsolescence adjustment applies. These changes directly affect owners of commercial agricultural buildings, not residential properties.

Maddy summarySB 3033 is a funding bill appropriating $29.38 million for Mississippi's Department of Agriculture and Commerce for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It allocates $9.16 million from general funds and $19.22 million from special sources (including museum fees, market subscriptions, and county contributions) to cover department operations, staff positions (219 permanent), and specific programs like the Beaver Control Program ($1.1 million) and Mississippi Egg Marketing Board ($74,805). The bill does not create new policies but funds existing services, requiring the department to meet performance targets like 2,000 pesticide inspections and 110,000 museum visitors. It died in conference on March 29, 2025, and never became law.

Maddy summarySB 3037 appropriates $26.5 million from the State General Fund and $21.5 million from a special fund to cover the operational expenses of Mississippi's Department of Information Technology Services (DITS) for fiscal year 2026. It also allocates $11.9 million for the Wireless Communication Commission's expenses, requiring compliance with state procurement laws. The bill authorizes 132 permanent positions for DITS and 9 for the Commission, with strict rules prohibiting the use of these funds for salary increases beyond minimums, promotions, or replacing federal funds. Additionally, it permits a $750,000 transfer to DITS' revolving fund for cash flow management, requiring repayment before year-end.