Appropriation; Port Authority, State.

H. B. No. 1895 *HR26/A936SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~ A1/2
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To: Appropriations B;
Appropriations A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

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

HOUSE BILL NO. 1895
(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFRAYING 1
THE EXPENSES OF THE MISSISSIPPI STATE PORT AUTHORITY AT GULFPORT 2
FOR THE 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 authorized and approved for expenditure out of any 6
funds which are received by or otherwise become available to the 7
Mississippi State Port Authority at Gulfport, for the purpose of 8
defraying the expenses of the authority for the fiscal year 9
beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027.................. 10
.............................................. $ 78,569,033.00. 11
SECTION 2. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of 12
Section 1, the following positions are authorized: 13
AUTHORIZED HEADCOUNT: 14
Permanent: 39 15
Time-Limited: 0 16
Any transfers or escalations shall be made in accordance with 17
the terms, conditions and procedures established by law. 18
H. B. No. 1895 *HR26/A936SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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No general funds authorized to be expended herein shall be 19
used to replace federal funds and/or other special funds which are 20
being used for salaries authorized under the provisions of this 21
act and which are withdrawn and no longer available. 22
SECTION 3. It is the intention of the Legislature that the 23
Mississippi State Port Authority at Gulfport shall maintain 24
complete accounting and personnel records related to the 25
expenditure of all funds appropriated under this act and that such 26
records shall be in the same format and level of detail as 27
maintained for Fiscal Year 2026. It is further the intention of 28
the Legislature that the agency's budget request for Fiscal Year 29
2028 shall be submitted to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee 30
in a format and level of detail comparable to the format and level 31
of detail provided during the Fiscal Year 2027 budget request 32
process. 33
SECTION 4. It is the intention of the Legislature that 34
whenever two (2) or more bids are received by this agency for the 35
purchase of commodities or equipment, and whenever all things 36
stated in such received bids are equal with respect to price, 37
quality and service, the Mississippi Industries for the Blind 38
shall be given preference. A similar preference shall be given to 39
the Mississippi Industries for the Blind whenever purchases are 40
made without competitive bids. 41
H. B. No. 1895 *HR26/A936SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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ST: Appropriation; Port Authority, State.
SECTION 5. Of the funds appropriated herein, Two Hundred 42
Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($225,000.00) is provided for the 43
purpose of funding overtime, callback or standby pay. 44
SECTION 6. It is the intention of the Legislature that the 45
Mississippi State Port Authority at Gulfport shall only expend 46
funds on activities directly related to the operation of the state 47
port. 48
SECTION 7. It is the intention of the Legislature that the 49
funds herein appropriated shall be expended in compliance with 50
Section 27-104-25, Mississippi Code of 1972, that no state agency 51
shall incur obligations or indebtedness in excess of their 52
appropriation and that the responsible officers, either personally 53
or upon their official bonds, shall be held responsible for 54
actions contrary to this provision. 55
SECTION 8. The money appropriated under the provisions of 56
Section 1 shall be disbursed upon bank checks signed by the proper 57
person, officer or officers, in the manner provided by law. 58
SECTION 9. This act shall take effect and be in force from 59
and after July 1, 2026. 60