Task Force to Study Restoration of Adequate Funding to Alcorn State University; create.

H. B. No. 1378 *HR43/R1074* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR43/R1074
PAGE 1 (DJ\KP)

To: Universities and
Colleges
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Harness

HOUSE BILL NO. 1378

AN ACT TO CREATE THE TASK FORCE TO STUDY RESTORATION OF 1
ADEQUATE FUNDING TO ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY; TO PRESCRIBE THE 2
MEMBERSHIP AND SPECIFIC DUTIES OF THE TASK FORCE; TO REQUIRE THE 3
TASK FORCE TO SUBMIT A REPORT OF ITS WORK AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO 4
THE GOVERNOR, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND HOUSE SPEAKER BEFORE 5
DECEMBER 31, 2026; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 6
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 7
SECTION 1. (1) There is created the Task Force to Study 8
Restoration of Adequate Funding to Alcorn State University. The 9
task force shall consist of the following members: 10
(a) The President of Alcorn State University or the 11
president's designee; 12
(b) A member of the Board of Trustees of State 13
Institutions of Higher Learning appointed by the Commissioner of 14
Higher Education; 15
(c) The Executive Director of the Joint Legislative 16
Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER) 17
or the director's designee; 18
(d) The State Auditor or the Auditor's designee; 19
(e) The State Treasurer or the Treasurer's designee; 20
H. B. No. 1378 *HR43/R1074* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1074
PAGE 2 (DJ\KP)

(f) The Director of the Department of Archives and 21
History or the director's designee; 22
(g) A resident of the state appointed by the Governor; 23
(h) A resident of the state appointed by the Lieutenant 24
Governor; and 25
(i) A resident of the state appointed by the Speaker of 26
the House of Representatives. 27
(2) The task force shall research and study the following: 28
(a) Historical funding data for the state institutions 29
of higher learning in Mississippi to determine the extent to which 30
Alcorn State University may have been underfunded in comparison to 31
other state institutions of higher learning, particularly the 32
other land grant institution, Mississippi State University; 33
(b) The impact on students, faculty and the community 34
served by Alcorn State University which resulted from any 35
underfunding; and 36
(c) Opportunities for the state to make whole Alcorn 37
State University by addressing any funding disparities in prior 38
years by allocating additional state funding to the institution 39
for such number of years determined to be appropriate by the task 40
force. 41
Based upon the results of its research and study, the task 42
force shall develop and make recommendations for a plan of action 43
to remedy any underfunding of Alcorn State University in prior 44
years and to secure ongoing parity in state funding with the 45
H. B. No. 1378 *HR43/R1074* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1074
PAGE 3 (DJ\KP)
ST: Task Force to Study Restoration of Adequate
Funding to Alcorn State University; create.
state's other institutions of higher learning, particularly the 46
other land grant institution, Mississippi State University, in 47
future years. 48
(3) All appointments to the task force must be made no later 49
than September 1, 2026. After the members are appointed, the 50
State Auditor shall set the date for an organizational meeting 51
which is mutually acceptable to a majority of the task force 52
members. At the organizational meeting, the task force shall 53
elect a chair from the members designated under paragraphs (a) 54
through (f) of subsection (1). A majority of the members of the 55
task force constitutes a quorum at all task force meetings. 56
(4) Members of the task force shall serve without 57
compensation but may be reimbursed, subject to the availability of 58
funding, for mileage and actual and necessary expenses incurred in 59
attending meetings of the task force pursuant to Section 25-3-41. 60
(5) The Department of Finance and Administration and the 61
Legislative Budget Office shall provide administrative support to 62
the task force. 63
(6) Before December 31, 2026, the task force shall prepare 64
and submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the 65
Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the House of 66
Representatives. 67
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 68
and after July 1, 2026. 69