HB1281 • 2026

State Auditor; require to perform 50-year review comparing appropriations to Alcorn and Mississippi State Universities.

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE OFFICE OF THE STATE AUDITOR TO PERFORM A 50-YEAR COMPARATIVE REVIEW OF THE LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATIONS TO THE STATE'S TWO LAND GRANT INSTITUTIONS; TO REQUIRE THE STATE AUDITOR TO SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE DETAILING ALL APPROPRIATIONS DURING THE REVIEW PERIOD TO ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY AND MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Budget Education

Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor: Harness
Last action: 2026-02-03
Official status: Dead
Effective date: July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass, so there are no specific details on how it would have been implemented or enforced.

State Auditor to Review University Funding

This bill requires the State Auditor to review how much money has been given to Alcorn State University and Mississippi State University over the past 50 years and report back to lawmakers.

What This Bill Does

Requires the State Auditor to compare funding given to two universities over 50 years, starting from fiscal year 1976.
Asks the State Auditor to break down how much money was given each year for general support and specific programs.
Requires a detailed report of this information by December 1, 2026.

Who It Names or Affects

The Office of the State Auditor
Alcorn State University
Mississippi State University

Terms To Know

Land Grant Institutions: Universities that receive federal land grants for agricultural and mechanical education.
Appropriations: Money set aside by the government to fund specific projects or institutions.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill did not pass in its session.
It is unclear if a similar review has been done before this proposed one.

Bill History

2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/03 (H) Died In Committee
2026-01-19 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/19 (H) Referred To Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency

Official Summary Text

State Auditor; require to perform 50-year review comparing appropriations to Alcorn and Mississippi State Universities.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

H. B. No. 1281 *HR43/R1072* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR43/R1072
PAGE 1 (ELS\KP)

To: Accountability,
Efficiency, Transparency
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Harness

HOUSE BILL NO. 1281

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE OFFICE OF THE STATE AUDITOR TO PERFORM 1
A 50-YEAR COMPARATIVE REVIEW OF THE LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATIONS TO 2
THE STATE'S TWO LAND GRANT INSTITUTIONS; TO REQUIRE THE STATE 3
AUDITOR TO SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE DETAILING ALL 4
APPROPRIATIONS DURING THE REVIEW PERIOD TO ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY 5
AND MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 6
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 7
SECTION 1. (1) The Office of the State Auditor shall 8
perform a comparative review of the legislative appropriations to 9
the state's two (2) land grant institutions, Alcorn State 10
University and Mississippi State University, for a period of fifty 11
(50) years commencing with fiscal year 1976. For each year, the 12
State Auditor shall determine the total funding appropriated to 13
each university from the various appropriations made to the Board 14
of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and directly 15
to Alcorn State University and Mississippi State University for 16
the support of specific programs at the respective institutions. 17
(2) Before December 1, 2026, the State Auditor shall prepare 18
and submit a detailed report of the comparative review to the 19
members of the Appropriations Committees of the House of 20
H. B. No. 1281 *HR43/R1072* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1072
PAGE 2 (ELS\KP)
ST: State Auditor; require to perform 50-year
review comparing appropriations to Alcorn and
Mississippi State Universities.
Representatives and Senate and to the Clerk of the House and 21
Secretary of the Senate to be made available, upon request, to any 22
legislator. For each fiscal year from 1976 to 2026, the report 23
must include the total funding appropriated to Alcorn State 24
University and Mississippi State University, disaggregated by the 25
allocations to each institution in the Board of Trustees of State 26
Institutions of Higher Learning general support appropriation bill 27
and all other appropriations made to each institution in support 28
of specific programs at or affiliated with the institution. 29
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 30
and after July 1, 2026. 31