Appropriation; Archives and History, Department of.

H. B. No. 1889 *HR43/A475SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~ A1/2
26/HR43/A475SG
PAGE 1

To: Appropriations B;
Appropriations A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representatives Bounds, Read, Anderson
(122nd), Clark, Eure, Hale, Jackson (11th),
Pigott, Rosebud, Johnson

HOUSE BILL NO. 1889
(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFRAYING 1
THE EXPENSES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY, FOR THE 2
FISCAL YEAR 2027. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 4
SECTION 1. The following sum, or so much thereof as may be 5
necessary, is appropriated out of any money in the State General 6
Fund not otherwise appropriated, for the purpose of defraying the 7
expenses of the Department of Archives and History for the fiscal 8
year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027............. 9
............................................... $ 13,346,758.00. 10
SECTION 2. The following sum, or so much thereof as may be 11
necessary, is appropriated out of any money in the special fund in 12
the State Treasury to the credit of the Department of Archives and 13
History which is comprised of special source funds collected by or 14
otherwise available to the department, for the purpose of 15
defraying the expenses of the department for the fiscal year 16
beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027.................. 17
............................................... $ 21,590,242.00. 18
H. B. No. 1889 *HR43/A475SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/A475SG
PAGE 2

SECTION 3. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of 19
this act, not more than the following amount of funds, with the 20
exception of the provisions in this section, shall be expended 21
only for “Personal Services,” which includes “Vacancy Funding,” 22
for the following authorized number of employment headcount: 23
FUNDING: 24
General Funds: $ 10,155,753.00 25
Special Funds: $ 2,650,212.00 26
Total Funds: $ 12,805,965.00 27
PERSONAL SERVICES: 28
Employee Salaries, Wages and 29
Fringe Benefits: $ 11,757,879.00 30
Progressions: $ 0.00 31
Vacancy Funding: $ 1,048,086.00 32
Total Personal Services: $ 12,805,965.00 33
AUTHORIZED HEADCOUNT: 34
Permanent: 158 35
Time-Limited: 10 36
As used in this section, the term “Personal Services” shall 37
mean funds provided under the major object of expenditure category 38
Personal Services for Salaries, Wages, and Fringe Benefits. Funds 39
in this category shall not be transferred to any other category. 40
It is the intention of the Legislature to ensure compliance 41
with the Variable Compensation Plan, as outlined in Section 42
25-9-147, Mississippi Code of 1972. Payment from these funds 43
H. B. No. 1889 *HR43/A475SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/A475SG
PAGE 3

shall be in accordance with the Variable Compensation Plan 44
promulgated by the Mississippi State Personnel Board. It is the 45
Legislature’s intention that no employee’s salary falls below the 46
minimum salary established by the Mississippi State Personnel 47
Board. 48
The State Personnel Board shall determine and publish the 49
projected annual cost of “Personal Services” based on monthly and 50
year-to-date payroll expenditures in compliance with the 51
provisions of this act. 52
With the funds herein appropriated, it shall be the agency’s 53
responsibility to ensure that no single personnel action or 54
combination of personnel actions, when annualized, exceeds the 55
Fiscal Year 2027 appropriation for “Personal Services” with the 56
exception of escalated funds. Further, it shall be the agency’s 57
responsibility to ensure that funds required to be appropriated 58
for “Personal Services” for Fiscal Year 2028 do not exceed Fiscal 59
Year 2027 funds appropriated for that purpose unless programs or 60
positions are added to the agency’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget by the 61
Mississippi Legislature. 62
If, at the time the agency takes any action to change 63
“Personal Services,” the State Personnel Board determines that the 64
agency has taken or will take an action that would cause the 65
agency to exceed the funds appropriated in this act when 66
annualized for Fiscal Year 2027 or increase the need for “Personal 67
Services” for Fiscal Year 2028, when annualized, the State 68
H. B. No. 1889 *HR43/A475SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/A475SG
PAGE 4

Personnel Board shall process no salary actions until such time as 69
the requirements of the provisions of this section are met with 70
the exception of new hires determined to be essential for the 71
agency. 72
When used in this section, “Vacancy Funding” shall mean funds 73
included in the Total Personal Services amount listed above and 74
designated for approved vacancies in Fiscal Year 2027. These 75
funds are to be utilized to increase the number of filled 76
headcounts that were authorized but unfilled as of the last day of 77
Fiscal Year 2026. If the agency fills additional headcounts after 78
March 1, 2026, until the end of Fiscal Year 2026, the amount of 79
available Vacancy Funding may be proportionally adjusted to 80
reflect the updated number of filled headcounts. The agency shall 81
be responsible for ensuring that “Vacancy Funding” is used to 82
increase headcounts and not for promotions, title changes, 83
in-range salary adjustments, or any other mechanism for increasing 84
salaries for current employees. 85
Any transfers or escalations shall be made in accordance with 86
the terms, conditions, and procedures established by law or 87
allowable under the terms set forth within this act. The State 88
Personnel Board shall not escalate positions or increase the 89
Personal Services total without written approval from the 90
Department of Finance and Administration. The Department of 91
Finance and Administration shall not provide written approval to 92
escalate any funds for salaries and/or headcounts without proof of 93
H. B. No. 1889 *HR43/A475SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/A475SG
PAGE 5

availability of new or additional funds above the appropriated 94
level. Unless specifically noted, all Fiscal Year 2026 escalated 95
headcounts have been accounted for and shall be converted to 96
authorized time-limited headcounts. 97
No general funds authorized to be expended herein shall be 98
used to replace federal funds and/or other special funds used for 99
salaries authorized under the provisions of this act and which are 100
withdrawn and no longer available. 101
None of the funds herein appropriated shall be used in 102
violation of the Internal Revenue Service’s Publication 15-A 103
relating to the reporting of income paid to contract employees, as 104
interpreted by the Office of the State Auditor. 105
If the agency’s total authorized headcount decreases from 106
Fiscal Year 2026 to Fiscal Year 2027, it will be the agency’s 107
discretion as to what headcounts are removed. 108
The Legislature authorized three (3) new headcounts, which 109
are included in the authorized headcount above for Fiscal Year 110
2027. 111
New Headcount Titles Authorized: 112
Maintenance/Grounds – 2 113
Client Support – 1 114
SECTION 4. It is the intention of the Legislature that the 115
Department of Archives and History shall maintain complete 116
accounting and personnel records related to the expenditure of all 117
funds appropriated under this act and that such records shall be 118
H. B. No. 1889 *HR43/A475SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/A475SG
PAGE 6

in the same format and level of detail as maintained for Fiscal 119
Year 2026. It is further the intention of the Legislature that 120
the agency's budget request for Fiscal Year 2028 shall be 121
submitted to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee in a format 122
and level of detail comparable to the format and level of detail 123
provided during the Fiscal Year 2027 budget request process. 124
SECTION 5. It is the intent of the Legislature that the 125
Mississippi Department of Archives and History shall charge the 126
maximum amount allowable for services rendered, consistent with 127
the cost of providing such services. The funds derived from these 128
charges shall be deposited into a special fund account in the 129
State Treasury to the credit of the Mississippi Department of 130
Archives and History. 131
SECTION 6. It is the intent of the Legislature that no part 132
of the funds herein appropriated shall be required to be used for 133
the payment of rent for the museum and public space in the State 134
Historical Museum, Old Capitol Restoration. 135
SECTION 7. Of the funds provided in Section 2, Two Million 136
Dollars ($2,000,000.00) is provided to the Department of Archives 137
and History from the Mississippi Landmark Grant Fund in accordance 138
with Section 39-5-23, Mississippi Code of 1972, to help support 139
the preservation of Mississippi Landmark Properties. 140
SECTION 8. Of the funds provided under the provisions of 141
this act, One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) is provided 142
for the purpose of capital development and maintenance of Beauvoir 143
H. B. No. 1889 *HR43/A475SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/A475SG
PAGE 7

Shrine, the last home of Jefferson Davis, the only President of 144
the Confederate States of America, subject to approval by the 145
Department of Archives and History. The expenditure of funds 146
available in this section shall be subject to prior approval by 147
the Department of Archives and History. 148
SECTION 9. It is the intention of the Legislature that 149
whenever two (2) or more bids are received by this agency for the 150
purchase of commodities or equipment, and whenever all things 151
stated in such received bids are equal with respect to price, 152
quality and service, the Mississippi Industries for the Blind 153
shall be given preference. A similar preference shall be given to 154
the Mississippi Industries for the Blind whenever purchases are 155
made without competitive bids. 156
SECTION 10. In addition to all other sums herein 157
appropriated, the following sum, or so much thereof as may be 158
necessary, is appropriated out of any money in the State General 159
Fund not otherwise appropriated, to the Department of Archives and 160
History for the purpose of supporting the Statewide Oral History 161
Project for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending 162
June 30, 2027.................................... $ 50,000.00. 163
SECTION 11. It is the intention of the Legislature that the 164
funds herein appropriated shall be expended in compliance with 165
Section 27-104-25, Mississippi Code of 1972, that no state agency 166
shall incur obligations or indebtedness in excess of their 167
appropriation and that the responsible officers, either personally 168
H. B. No. 1889 *HR43/A475SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/A475SG
PAGE 8

or upon their official bonds, shall be held responsible for 169
actions contrary to this provision. 170
SECTION 12. Of the funds provided in Section 2, Seven 171
Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($750,000.00) is provided from 172
Special Funds in the State Treasury to the credit of the State 173
Treasury fund created in Section 27-19-56.69(8), Mississippi Code 174
of 1972, for the purpose of paying the costs of repair and 175
renovation of the New Capitol, the Old Capitol, the Governor's 176
Mansion, and the War Memorial Building, in accordance with rules 177
and regulations of the Department of Finance and Administration in 178
a manner consistent with the escalation of funds. 179
SECTION 13. The following sum, or so much thereof as may be 180
necessary, is reappropriated out of any money in the Capital 181
Expense Fund not otherwise appropriated for the Department of 182
Archives and History for the purpose of reauthorizing the 183
expenditure of Capital Expense Funds, as authorized in HB 1, 2025 184
First Extraordinary Session, to defray expenses of the Department 185
of Archives and History for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 186
2026, and ending June 30, 2027.................. $ 17,338,140.00. 187
This appropriation is made for the purpose of reauthorizing 188
the expenditure of funds as allocated herein: 189
(a) Repair, renovation, and construction 190
projects undertaken by the Department of 191
Archives and History....................... $ 13,740,704.00. 192
(b) Vicksburg Military Park Interpretive 193
H. B. No. 1889 *HR43/A475SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/A475SG
PAGE 9

Center..................................... $ 3,597,436.00. 194
Notwithstanding the amount reappropriated under the provisions of 195
this section, in no event shall the amount expended exceed the 196
unexpended balances as of June 30, 2026. In addition, this 197
reappropriation shall not change the purpose for which the funds 198
were originally authorized. 199
SECTION 14. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions 200
of Section 2, Four Hundred Seventeen Thousand Dollars 201
($417,000.00), or so much thereof, shall be derived out of any 202
money in the State Treasury to the credit of the Capital Expense 203
Fund, as created in Section 27-103-303, Mississippi Code of 1972, 204
and allocated in a manner as determined by the State Treasurer. 205
These funds are provided to the Department of Archives and History 206
for the maintenance and preservation of historic artifacts 207
contained within the collection overseen by the Department of 208
Archives and History, but are permanently housed inside the 209
Mississippi State Capitol. 210
SECTION 15. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions 211
of Section 2, Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000.00), or so much 212
thereof, shall be derived out of any money in the State Treasury 213
to the credit of the Mississippi Historic Site Preservation Grant 214
Fund, as created in Section 39-5-22, Mississippi Code of 1972, and 215
allocated in a manner as determined by the State Treasurer. These 216
funds are provided to the Mississippi Department of Archives and 217
H. B. No. 1889 *HR43/A475SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/A475SG
PAGE 10

History for the Mississippi Historic Site Preservation Grant 218
Program. 219
SECTION 16. Of the funds provided in Section 2, the 220
following sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is 221
appropriated out of any money in the State Treasury to the credit 222
of the Mississippi Community Heritage Preservation Grant Fund, for 223
the purpose of grant assistance to Historic County Courthouses, 224
School Buildings and Other Historic Buildings as in Section 225
39-5-145, Mississippi Code of 1972, for the fiscal year beginning 226
July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027.......... $ 7,500,000.00. 227
SECTION 17. Of the funds appropriated in Section 2, Sixteen 228
Thousand Dollars ($16,000.00), or so much thereof as may be 229
necessary, shall be derived out of any money in the State Treasury 230
to the credit of the Project Poppy Fund, as created in Section 231
57-1-631, Mississippi Code of 1972, and allocated in a manner as 232
determined by the Treasurer's Office and Sixteen Thousand Dollars 233
($16,000.00), or so much thereof as may be necessary, shall be 234
derived out of any money in the State Treasury to the credit of 235
the Project Atlas Fund, as created in Section 57-1-641, 236
Mississippi Code of 1972, and allocated in a manner as determined 237
by the Treasurer's Office. These funds are provided for expediting 238
services needed for Project Poppy and Project Atlas. 239
SECTION 18. The Department of Archives and History is 240
authorized to accept and expend any grant, donation, or 241
contribution from any individual, public, or private organization, 242
H. B. No. 1889 *HR43/A475SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/A475SG
PAGE 11
ST: Appropriation; Archives and History,
Department of.
or government entity for purposes of defraying the operational 243
costs of the department. Such grants, donations or contributions 244
shall be received and expended under the rules and regulations of 245
the Department of Finance and Administration in a manner 246
consistent with the escalation of federal funds not to exceed One 247
Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00). 248
SECTION 19. The money herein appropriated shall be paid by 249
the State Treasurer out of any money in the State Treasury to the 250
credit of the proper fund or funds as set forth in this act, upon 251
warrants issued by the State Fiscal Officer; and the State Fiscal 252
Officer shall issue warrants upon requisitions signed by the 253
proper person, officer or officers, in the manner provided by law. 254
SECTION 20. This act shall take effect and be in force from 255
and after July 1, 2026. 256
257