Appropriation; Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, Department of.

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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. 1904
(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE SUPPORT AND 1
MAINTENANCE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE, FISHERIES AND PARKS FOR 2
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 appropriated out of any money in the State General 6
Fund not otherwise appropriated, for the support and maintenance 7
of the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks for the fiscal 8
year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027............. 9
............................................... $ 21,853,514.00. 10
SECTION 2. The following sum, or so much thereof as may be 11
necessary, is appropriated out of any money in any special fund in 12
the State Treasury to the credit of the Department of Wildlife, 13
Fisheries and Parks which is comprised of special source funds 14
collected by or otherwise available to the department for the 15
support and maintenance of the department, including the Museum of 16
Natural Science and the Bureau of Parks and Recreation, for the 17
fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027...... 18
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............................................... $ 82,116,718.00. 19
The following sum, which is included in the sum appropriated 20
above in this section, is appropriated out of the state excise 21
taxes upon gasoline, oil and other petroleum products to the 22
Fisheries and Wildlife Fund for the fiscal year beginning 23
July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027......... $ 5,750,000.00. 24
The Department of Revenue is directed to set aside the amount 25
of this appropriation or any part thereof at any time it sees fit, 26
out of any collections of taxes upon gasoline, oil and other 27
petroleum products, and to deduct the amounts so set aside from 28
such funds before making distribution thereof. However, 29
provisions shall first be made for the Highway Bonds Sinking Fund, 30
as required under the provisions of Chapter 130, Laws of 1938, and 31
any amendments thereto, and Section 27-5-101, Mississippi Code of 32
1972. 33
Any funds available in the Wildlife Heritage Fund may be 34
expended by the Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks as 35
authorized by law. The department shall make a detailed report to 36
the Legislature regarding the spending of the Wildlife Heritage 37
funds by September 1 for the preceding fiscal year. 38
SECTION 3. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of 39
Section 2 to the Bureau of Wildlife and Fisheries, funds in the 40
amount of One Hundred Twenty-five Thousand Three Hundred 41
Thirty-five Dollars ($125,335.00) shall be derived from the 42
Education Enhancement Fund deposited pursuant to Sections 27-65-75 43
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and 27-67-31, Mississippi Code of 1972, for the purpose of 44
defraying the expenses of Project WILD for Fiscal Year 2027. 45
SECTION 4. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of 46
this act, not more than the following amount of funds, with the 47
exception of the provisions in this section, shall be expended 48
only for “Personal Services,” which includes “Vacancy Funding,” 49
for the following authorized number of employment headcount: 50
FUNDING: 51
General Funds: $ 19,045,786.00 52
Special Funds: $ 27,386,914.00 53
Total Funds: $ 46,432,700.00 54
PERSONAL SERVICES: 55
Employee Salaries, Wages and 56
Fringe Benefits: $ 45,427,417.00 57
Progressions: $ 0.00 58
Vacancy Funding: $ 1,005,283.00 59
Total Personal Services: $ 46,432,700.00 60
AUTHORIZED HEADCOUNT: 61
Permanent: 523 62
Time-Limited: 51 63
As used in this section, the term “Personal Services” shall 64
mean funds provided under the major object of expenditure category 65
Personal Services for Salaries, Wages, and Fringe Benefits. Funds 66
in this category shall not be transferred to any other category. 67
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It is the intention of the Legislature to ensure compliance 68
with the Variable Compensation Plan, as outlined in Section 69
25-9-147, Mississippi Code of 1972. Payment from these funds 70
shall be in accordance with the Variable Compensation Plan 71
promulgated by the Mississippi State Personnel Board. It is the 72
Legislature’s intention that no employee’s salary falls below the 73
minimum salary established by the Mississippi State Personnel 74
Board. 75
The State Personnel Board shall determine and publish the 76
projected annual cost of “Personal Services” based on monthly and 77
year-to-date payroll expenditures in compliance with the 78
provisions of this act. 79
With the funds herein appropriated, it shall be the agency’s 80
responsibility to ensure that no single personnel action or 81
combination of personnel actions, when annualized, exceeds the 82
Fiscal Year 2027 appropriation for “Personal Services” with the 83
exception of escalated funds. Further, it shall be the agency’s 84
responsibility to ensure that funds required to be appropriated 85
for “Personal Services” for Fiscal Year 2028 do not exceed Fiscal 86
Year 2027 funds appropriated for that purpose unless programs or 87
positions are added to the agency’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget by the 88
Mississippi Legislature. 89
If, at the time the agency takes any action to change 90
“Personal Services,” the State Personnel Board determines that the 91
agency has taken or will take an action that would cause the 92
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agency to exceed the funds appropriated in this act when 93
annualized for Fiscal Year 2027 or increase the need for “Personal 94
Services” for Fiscal Year 2028, when annualized, the State 95
Personnel Board shall process no salary actions until such time as 96
the requirements of the provisions of this section are met with 97
the exception of new hires determined to be essential for the 98
agency. 99
When used in this section, “Vacancy Funding” shall mean funds 100
included in the Total Personal Services amount listed above and 101
designated for approved vacancies in Fiscal Year 2027. These 102
funds are to be utilized to increase the number of filled 103
headcounts that were authorized but unfilled as of the last day of 104
Fiscal Year 2026. If the agency fills additional headcounts after 105
March 1, 2026, until the end of Fiscal Year 2026, the amount of 106
available Vacancy Funding may be proportionally adjusted to 107
reflect the updated number of filled headcounts. The agency shall 108
be responsible for ensuring that “Vacancy Funding” is used to 109
increase headcounts and not for promotions, title changes, 110
in-range salary adjustments, or any other mechanism for increasing 111
salaries for current employees. 112
Any transfers or escalations shall be made in accordance with 113
the terms, conditions, and procedures established by law or 114
allowable under the terms set forth within this act. The State 115
Personnel Board shall not escalate positions or increase the 116
Personal Services total without written approval from the 117
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Department of Finance and Administration. The Department of 118
Finance and Administration shall not provide written approval to 119
escalate any funds for salaries and/or headcounts without proof of 120
availability of new or additional funds above the appropriated 121
level. Unless specifically noted, all Fiscal Year 2026 escalated 122
headcounts have been accounted for and shall be converted to 123
authorized time-limited headcounts. 124
No general funds authorized to be expended herein shall be 125
used to replace federal funds and/or other special funds used for 126
salaries authorized under the provisions of this act and which are 127
withdrawn and no longer available. 128
None of the funds herein appropriated shall be used in 129
violation of the Internal Revenue Service’s Publication 15-A 130
relating to the reporting of income paid to contract employees, as 131
interpreted by the Office of the State Auditor. 132
If the agency’s total authorized headcount decreases from 133
Fiscal Year 2026 to Fiscal Year 2027, it will be the agency’s 134
discretion as to what headcounts are removed. 135
The Legislature authorized eight (8) new headcounts which are 136
included in the authorized headcount above for Fiscal Year 2027. 137
New Headcount Titles Authorized: 138
Law Enforcement Family – 8 139
SECTION 5. Each conservation officer and supervisor shall be 140
furnished an allowance for uniforms not to exceed Five Hundred 141
Fifty Dollars ($550.00) per annum. 142
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Provided further, when any personnel of the Bureau of 143
Wildlife and Fisheries are transferred from one (1) county to 144
another on a permanent assignment, the expense monies now paid on 145
out-of-county duty shall not be applicable. 146
SECTION 6. It is the intention of the Legislature that the 147
Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks shall maintain 148
complete accounting and personnel records related to the 149
expenditure of all funds appropriated under this act and that such 150
records shall be in the same format and level of detail as 151
maintained for Fiscal Year 2026. It is further the intention of 152
the Legislature that the agency's budget request for Fiscal Year 153
2028 shall be submitted to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee 154
in a format and level of detail comparable to the format and level 155
of detail provided during the Fiscal Year 2027 budget request 156
process. 157
SECTION 7. In compliance with the "Mississippi Performance 158
Budget and Strategic Planning Act of 1994," it is the intent of 159
the Legislature that the funds provided herein shall be utilized 160
in the most efficient and effective manner possible to achieve the 161
intended mission of this agency. Based on the funding authorized, 162
this agency shall make every effort to attain the targeted 163
performance measures provided below: 164
FY2027 165
Performance Measures Target 166
Support Services 167
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Number of Hunting and Fishing Licenses Sold 480,000 168
Number of Registrations of Boats 48,000 169
Percent Change in License Sales 0.01 170
Percent Change in Boat Registration 0.08 171
Fisheries 172
Number of Fish Stocked for Public Waters 1,500,000 173
Number of Customers of DWFP Lakes 80,000 174
Number of Participants in Aquatic Education 5,500 175
Number of Access Facilities Built or 176
Maintained (Boat Ramps) 37 177
Wildlife 178
MDWFP Management for Hunters and 179
Non-Consumptive Users (Man-Days) 125,000 180
Research Projects Conducted to Sustain 181
Healthy and Abundant Wildlife 182
Populations 10 183
Acres of Forest Inventory 1,000 184
Acres of Prescribed Burning, Waterfowl 185
Management, and Timber Management on 186
WMA's to Sustain Healthy & Abundant 187
Wildlife 25,000 188
Percent Change in Number of Research 189
Projects Conducted to Sustain Healthy 190
and Abundant Wildlife Populations -33.00 191
Percent Change in Number of Private Land 192
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Acres Influenced 0.00 193
Percent Change in the Number of Forest 194
Inventories Conducted -80.00 195
Law Enforcement 196
Number of Hunter Education Participants 11,500 197
Number of Hours Patrolled on Land 190,000 198
Number of Hours Patrolled on Water 31,000 199
Number of Criminal Investigations Conducted 7,000 200
Number of Shooting Sport Programs 1,600 201
Number of Boating Accidents 40 202
Number of Boating Fatalities 7 203
Cost per Student for Hunter Education 51.00 204
Cost per Sports Program 600.00 205
Percent Change in Number of Boating 206
Accidents 0.00 207
Percent Change in Boating Related Fatalities 0.00 208
Percent Change in Public Contacts per 209
Officer/per Day 15.00 210
Special Projects 211
Percent Increase in Improved Use of 212
Special Funds 0.20 213
Parks 214
Overnight Accommodation (Cabins/Motels) 300,000 215
Overnight Accommodations (Camping) 795,000 216
Day Use Services 400,000 217
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Percent Change in Day Use Services 35.00 218
Percent Change in the Prior Year of 219
Occupancy Rate of Cabins 20.00 220
Museum 221
Statewide Education Programming 155,000 222
Total Public Programming 250,000 223
Number of Visitors to Exhibits 90,000 224
Number of Natural Heritage Records Entered 85,000 225
Percent Change of Students that 226
Understand the Importance of Natural 227
Resource Conservation 5.00 228
Percent Change of Visitors to Exhibits 5.00 229
A reporting of the degree to which the performance targets 230
set above have been or are being achieved shall be provided in the 231
agency's budget request submitted to the Joint Legislative Budget 232
Committee for Fiscal Year 2028. 233
SECTION 8. Of the funds appropriated in Section 2, the 234
following amount shall be derived from the Department of Wildlife, 235
Fisheries and Parks Special Pearl River Timber Fund No. 3465, for 236
the purpose of making improvements to the Pearl River Wildlife 237
Management Area................................... $ 50,000.00. 238
SECTION 9. Of the funds appropriated within this act, the 239
Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks may enter into 240
cooperative agreements with the board of supervisors of any county 241
or any group or combination of counties for the purpose of 242
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creating, improving or restoring parks, public game and fish 243
habitat lying or to be situated wholly or partially within such 244
county or in an adjoining county; and each county is empowered and 245
authorized, in its discretion, to expend funds from the general 246
county fund for such purposes from which fund they shall reimburse 247
to the Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks the actual cost 248
of all surveying and engineering projects incurred by the 249
Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks incidental thereto. 250
Such boards of supervisors are further authorized and empowered, 251
in their discretion, to enter into agreements necessary to carry 252
out the purposes of this act with any other county, the United 253
States Forest Service or any other agency if same should be 254
necessary for the acquisition of land by lease or otherwise for 255
such purposes. 256
SECTION 10. It shall be unlawful for any officer, employee 257
or other person whatsoever to use or permit or authorize the use 258
of any automobile or any other motor vehicle owned by the State of 259
Mississippi or any department, agency or institution thereof for 260
any purpose other than upon the official business of the State of 261
Mississippi or any agency, department or institution thereof. 262
It is the intent of the Legislature that motor vehicles 263
authorized to be owned and operated by this agency shall comply 264
with Sections 25-1-77 through 25-1-93, Mississippi Code of 1972. 265
SECTION 11. In order to be in compliance with Section 266
63-1-201 et seq., funds are herein provided and may be expended by 267
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the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks to pay the costs 268
of commercial driver's licenses for specific employees and/or to 269
reimburse such costs for specific employees who, in the course of 270
their duties and responsibilities, are required to hold a valid 271
Mississippi Commercial Driver's License. 272
SECTION 12. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, 273
Fisheries and Parks is authorized to provide financial support of 274
One Hundred Seventy-five Thousand Dollars ($175,000.00) and to 275
enter into an agreement with the Mississippi Cooperative Extension 276
Service for a project specialist and related supportive cost. 277
SECTION 13. The department is authorized to spend up to 278
sixty percent (60%) of revenue in the State Park Timber Endowment 279
Fund, as needed, to operate and maintain the state parks. 280
SECTION 14. It is the intention of the Legislature that 281
whenever two (2) or more bids are received by this agency for the 282
purchase of commodities or equipment, and whenever all things 283
stated in such received bids are equal with respect to price, 284
quality and service, the Mississippi Industries for the Blind 285
shall be given preference. A similar preference shall be given to 286
the Mississippi Industries for the Blind whenever purchases are 287
made without competitive bids. 288
SECTION 15. Of the funds appropriated in Section 1, it is 289
the intention of the Legislature that Four Hundred Thousand 290
Dollars ($400,000.00) is allocated for the detection and 291
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prevention of Chronic Wasting Disease in deer populations across 292
the state. 293
SECTION 16. Of the funds appropriated in Section 1, it is 294
the intention of the Legislature that Seventy-five Thousand 295
Dollars ($75,000.00) is allocated for LeFleur’s Bluff State Park 296
for playground security expenses. 297
SECTION 17. Of the funds appropriated herein, Two Hundred 298
Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00) may be provided to fund the Youth 299
Participation Initiative for the purpose of educating children in 300
the areas of hunting, fishing, conservation, and safety. 301
SECTION 18. It is the intention of the Legislature that no 302
more than One Million Three Hundred Thousand Dollars 303
($1,300,000.00) be expended from the Motor Vehicle Fund for the 304
purchase of any type of motor vehicle. 305
SECTION 19. Of the funds appropriated in Section 2, it is the 306
intention of the Legislature that Eight Million One Hundred 307
Thousand Dollars ($8,100,000.00) shall be allocated for projects 308
awarded by the Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund. 309
SECTION 20. The executive director of the Department of 310
Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks is authorized to enter into an 311
agreement with any public or private entities to manage any park 312
or parks within the state park system. 313
SECTION 21. It is the intent of the Legislature that no 314
state-owned wildlife management area be closed and that to the 315
greatest practicable extent, department land management decisions 316
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and actions may not result in any net loss of any acreage 317
available for hunting opportunities that existed on July 1, 2006, 318
as provided in Section 49-5-99(4). It is the intention of the 319
Legislature that no state park be closed without legislative 320
approval. 321
SECTION 22. It is the intent of the Legislature that the 322
Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks shall have 323
the authority to enter into multi-year contracts for the purpose 324
of placing a sign on such state park property under the 325
department's domain, in accordance with any applicable rules and 326
regulations. All proceeds generated from these activities shall 327
remain with the department and shall be deposited into the proper 328
special fund. 329
SECTION 23. It is the intent of the Legislature that from 330
the funds available to the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and 331
Parks, the department may purchase and pay premium(s) on property 332
damage insurance on its motor vehicles, boats, trailers, real 333
property improvements, buildings, furnishings, and such other 334
assets as may be appropriate or practical, and/or as required by a 335
granting entity. 336
SECTION 24. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions 337
of Section 2, One Million Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars 338
($1,750,000.00) shall be designated for the purpose of defraying 339
the operational expenses of Special Projects. None of these funds 340
shall be used for "Personal Services." 341
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SECTION 25. It is the intention of the Legislature that the 342
Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks shall have the 343
authority to receive, budget and expend funds from the Gulf and 344
Wildlife Protection Fund, not to exceed Fifty Thousand Dollars 345
($50,000.00) for the purpose of preservation, protection, 346
conservation, and acquisition of waters, land and wildlife of this 347
state. 348
SECTION 26. It is the intention of the Legislature that the 349
funds herein appropriated shall be expended in compliance with 350
Section 27-104-25, Mississippi Code of 1972, that no state agency 351
shall incur obligations or indebtedness in excess of their 352
appropriation and that the responsible officers, either personally 353
or upon their official bonds, shall be held responsible for 354
actions contrary to this provision. 355
SECTION 27. Of the funds appropriated in Section 1, it is 356
the intention of the Legislature that Fifty-eight Thousand Five 357
Hundred Ninety-three Dollars ($58,593.00) may be allocated for the 358
Hunter Education program supported from the General Fund court 359
assessments. 360
SECTION 28. The following sum, or so much thereof as may be 361
necessary, is reappropriated out of any money in the Capital 362
Expense Fund not otherwise appropriated, for the Mississippi 363
Department of Wildlife for the purpose of reauthorizing the 364
expenditure of Capital Expense Funds as authorized in House Bill 365
15, 2025 First Extraordinary Session, to provide for the 366
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renovation of the museum admission area for the fiscal year 367
beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027.................. 368
.................................................. $ 868,119.00. 369
Notwithstanding the amount reappropriated under the 370
provisions of this section, in no event shall the amount expended 371
exceed the unexpended balances as of June 30, 2026. In addition, 372
this reappropriation shall not change the purpose for which the 373
funds were originally authorized. 374
SECTION 29. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions 375
of Section 2, Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00), or so much 376
thereof, shall be derived out of any money in the State Treasury 377
to the credit of the Capital Expense Fund, as created in Section 378
27-103-303, Mississippi Code of 1972, and allocated in a manner as 379
determined by the State Treasurer. These funds are provided to the 380
Mississippi Department of Wildlife for projects on the Parks 381
Improvement Plan. 382
SECTION 30. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions 383
of Section 2, Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), or so much 384
thereof as may be necessary, shall be derived out of any money in 385
the State Treasury to the credit of the Capital Expense Fund, as 386
created in Section 27-103-303, Mississippi Code of 1972, and 387
allocated in a manner as determined by the State Treasurer. These 388
funds are provided to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife 389
Fisheries and Parks for land-based water safety programs. 390
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ST: Appropriation; Wildlife, Fisheries and
Parks, Department of.
SECTION 31. The money herein appropriated shall be paid by 391
the State Treasurer out of any money in the State Treasury to the 392
credit of the proper fund or funds as set forth in this act, upon 393
warrants issued by the State Fiscal Officer; and the State Fiscal 394
Officer shall issue his warrants upon requisitions signed by the 395
proper person, officer or officers, in the manner provided by law. 396
SECTION 32. This act shall take effect and be in force from 397
and after July 1, 2026. 398