HB883 • 2026

Appropriation; Department of Mental Health to expand outpatient and community-based services for certain formerly incarcerated state inmates.

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXPANDING OUTPATIENT SERVICES AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES FOR FORMER INMATES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS WHO WERE DIAGNOSED WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS WHILE HOUSED WITHIN A STATE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND WHO ARE NO LONGER INCARCERATED WITHIN A CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, AS PROVIDED IN HOUSE BILL NO. , 2026 REGULAR SESSION, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2027.

Budget Crime Healthcare

Did Not Pass

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

Sponsor: Brown
Last action: 2026-02-25
Official status: Dead
Effective date: July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

The exact distribution details beyond the total amount are not specified in the provided official summary and text.

Money for Mental Health Help

This bill gives money to help people who were in prison get mental health care when they leave.

What This Bill Does

Gives $1,000,000 to the Department of Mental Health to expand outpatient and community-based services for former inmates with a diagnosed mental illness while incarcerated.

Who It Names or Affects

Former inmates of the Department of Corrections who were diagnosed with a mental illness while housed within a state correctional institution.
Community mental health centers providing outpatient and community-based services.

Terms To Know

Outpatient Services: Medical care that does not require staying overnight at a hospital or clinic.
Community-Based Services: Supports and programs provided in the community to help people live independently.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill did not pass during the session.
It only provides funding for one fiscal year, from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.

Bill History

2026-02-25 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/25 (H) Died In Committee
2026-01-16 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/16 (H) Referred To Appropriations A

Official Summary Text

Appropriation; Department of Mental Health to expand outpatient and community-based services for certain formerly incarcerated state inmates.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

H. B. No. 883 *HR43/R1127* ~ OFFICIAL ~ A1/2
26/HR43/R1127
PAGE 1 (RF\KP)

To: Appropriations A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Brown

HOUSE BILL NO. 883

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF 1
MENTAL HEALTH FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXPANDING OUTPATIENT SERVICES AND 2
COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES FOR FORMER INMATES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 3
CORRECTIONS WHO WERE DIAGNOSED WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS WHILE HOUSED 4
WITHIN A STATE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 5
CORRECTIONS AND WHO ARE NO LONGER INCARCERATED WITHIN A 6
CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, AS 7
PROVIDED IN HOUSE BILL NO. , 2026 REGULAR SESSION, FOR THE 8
FISCAL YEAR 2027. 9
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 10
SECTION 1. The following sum, or so much of it as may be 11
necessary, is appropriated out of any money in the State General 12
Fund not otherwise appropriated, to the State Department of Mental 13
Health for the purpose of expanding outpatient services and 14
community-based services for former inmates of the Department of 15
Corrections who were diagnosed with a mental illness while housed 16
within a state correctional institution of the Department of 17
Corrections and who are no longer incarcerated within a 18
correctional institution of the Department of Corrections, as 19
provided in House Bill No. , 2026 Regular Session, for the 20
fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027...... 21
H. B. No. 883 *HR43/R1127* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1127
PAGE 2 (RF\KP)
ST: Appropriation; Department of Mental Health
to expand outpatient and community-based
services for certain formerly incarcerated state
inmates.
.................................................... $ 1,000,000.00 22
SECTION 2. The Department of Mental Health shall distribute 23
up to $500,000.00 of the money appropriated in Section 1 of this 24
act among the community mental health centers to be used for the 25
same purpose described in Section 1, as provided in House Bill 26
No.____, 2026 Regular Session. 27
SECTION 3. The money appropriated by this act shall be paid 28
by the State Treasurer out of any money in the State General Fund 29
not otherwise appropriated, upon warrants issued by the State 30
Fiscal Officer; and the State Fiscal Officer shall issue his or 31
her warrants upon requisitions signed by the proper person, 32
officer or officers in the manner provided by law. 33
SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from 34
and after July 1, 2026. 35