Appropriation; Finance and Administration, Department of.

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To: Appropriations
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Senator(s) Hopson, DeBar, Blackwell,
Hartness, Hickman, Norwood

SENATE BILL NO. 3051
(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO DEFRAY THE EXPENSES OF THE 1
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027. 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 3
SECTION 1. The following sum, or so much thereof as may be 4
necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any money in the State 5
General Fund not otherwise appropriated, to defray the expenses of 6
the Department of Finance and Administration for the fiscal year 7
beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027.................. 8
............................................... $ 38,379,920.00. 9
SECTION 2. The following sum, or so much thereof as may be 10
necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any money in the State 11
Treasury to the credit of the Department of Finance and 12
Administration for the purpose of defraying the expenses incurred 13
in the operation of the various offices of the department for the 14
fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027...... 15
............................................... $ 691,070,193.00. 16
SECTION 3. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of 17
this act, not more than the following amount of funds, with the 18
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exception of the provisions in this section, shall be expended 19
only for "Personal Services," which includes "Vacancy Funding," 20
for the following authorized number of employment headcount: 21
FUNDING: 22
General Funds: $ 20,348,004.00 23
Special Funds: $ 6,092,847.00 24
Total Funds: $ 26,440,851.00 25
PERSONAL SERVICES: 26
Employee Salaries, Wages and 27
Fringe Benefits: $ 25,820,240.00 28
Progressions: $ 0.00 29
Vacancy Funding: $ 620,611.00 30
Total Personal Services: $ 26,440,851.00 31
AUTHORIZED HEADCOUNT: 32
Permanent: 295 33
Time-Limited: 1 34
As used in this section, the term "Personal Services" shall 35
mean funds provided under the major object of expenditure category 36
Personal Services for Salaries, Wages, and Fringe Benefits. Funds 37
in this category shall not be transferred to any other category. 38
It is the intention of the Legislature to ensure compliance 39
with the Variable Compensation Plan, as outlined in Section 40
25-9-147, Mississippi Code of 1972. Payment from these funds 41
shall be in accordance with the Variable Compensation Plan 42
promulgated by the Mississippi State Personnel Board. It is the 43
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Legislature's intention that no employee's salary falls below the 44
minimum salary established by the Mississippi State Personnel 45
Board. 46
The State Personnel Board shall determine and publish the 47
projected annual cost of "Personal Services" based on monthly and 48
year-to-date payroll expenditures in compliance with the 49
provisions of this act. 50
With the funds herein appropriated, it shall be the agency's 51
responsibility to ensure that no single personnel action or 52
combination of personnel actions, when annualized, exceeds the 53
Fiscal Year 2027 appropriation for "Personal Services" with the 54
exception of escalated funds. Further, it shall be the agency's 55
responsibility to ensure that funds required to be appropriated 56
for "Personal Services" for Fiscal Year 2028 do not exceed Fiscal 57
Year 2027 funds appropriated for that purpose unless programs or 58
positions are added to the agency's Fiscal Year 2027 budget by the 59
Mississippi Legislature. 60
If, at the time the agency takes any action to change 61
"Personal Services," the State Personnel Board determines that the 62
agency has taken or will take an action that would cause the 63
agency to exceed the funds appropriated in this act when 64
annualized for Fiscal Year 2027 or increase the need for "Personal 65
Services" for Fiscal Year 2028, when annualized, the State 66
Personnel Board shall process no salary actions until such time as 67
the requirements of the provisions of this section are met with 68
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the exception of new hires determined to be essential for the 69
agency. 70
When used in this section, "Vacancy Funding" shall mean funds 71
included in the Total Personal Services amount listed above and 72
designated for approved vacancies in Fiscal Year 2027. These 73
funds are to be utilized to increase the number of filled 74
headcounts that were authorized but unfilled as of the last day of 75
Fiscal Year 2026. If the agency fills additional headcounts after 76
March 1, 2026, until the end of Fiscal Year 2026, the amount of 77
available Vacancy Funding may be proportionally adjusted to 78
reflect the updated number of filled headcounts. The agency shall 79
be responsible for ensuring that "Vacancy Funding" is used to 80
increase headcounts and not for promotions, title changes, 81
in-range salary adjustments, or any other mechanism for increasing 82
salaries for current employees. 83
Any transfers or escalations shall be made in accordance with 84
the terms, conditions, and procedures established by law or 85
allowable under the terms set forth within this act. The State 86
Personnel Board shall not escalate positions or increase the 87
Personal Services total without written approval from the 88
Department of Finance and Administration. The Department of 89
Finance and Administration shall not provide written approval to 90
escalate any funds for salaries and/or headcounts without proof of 91
availability of new or additional funds above the appropriated 92
level. Unless specifically noted, all Fiscal Year 2026 escalated 93
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headcounts have been accounted for and shall be converted to 94
authorized time-limited headcounts. 95
No general funds authorized to be expended herein shall be 96
used to replace federal funds and/or other special funds used for 97
salaries authorized under the provisions of this act and which are 98
withdrawn and no longer available. 99
None of the funds herein appropriated shall be used in 100
violation of the Internal Revenue Service's Publication 15-A 101
relating to the reporting of income paid to contract employees, as 102
interpreted by the Office of the State Auditor. 103
If the agency's total authorized headcount decreases from 104
Fiscal Year 2026 to Fiscal Year 2027, it will be the agency's 105
discretion as to what headcounts are removed. 106
SECTION 4. In addition to all other sums herein 107
appropriated, the following sum, or so much thereof as may be 108
necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any money in the Tort 109
Claims Trust Fund not otherwise appropriated, for the purpose of 110
defraying the expenses of the Tort Claims Board in the 111
administration of the Tort Claims Act for the fiscal year 112
beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027.................. 113
................................................ $ 6,432,708.00. 114
SECTION 5. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of 115
Section 4 of this act, not more than the following amount of 116
funds, with the exception of the provisions in this section, shall 117
be expended only for "Personal Services," which includes "Vacancy 118
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Funding," for the following authorized number of employment 119
headcount: 120
FUNDING: 121
General Funds: $ 0.00 122
Special Funds: $ 488,798.00 123
Total Funds: $ 488,798.00 124
PERSONAL SERVICES: 125
Employee Salaries, Wages and 126
Fringe Benefits: $ 488,798.00 127
Progressions: $ 0.00 128
Vacancy Funding: $ 0.00 129
Total Personal Services: $ 488,798.00 130
AUTHORIZED HEADCOUNT: 131
Permanent: 4 132
Time-Limited: 0 133
As used in this section, the term "Personal Services" shall 134
mean funds provided under the major object of expenditure category 135
Personal Services for Salaries, Wages, and Fringe Benefits. Funds 136
in this category shall not be transferred to any other category. 137
It is the intention of the Legislature to ensure compliance 138
with the Variable Compensation Plan, as outlined in Section 139
25-9-147, Mississippi Code of 1972. Payment from these funds 140
shall be in accordance with the Variable Compensation Plan 141
promulgated by the Mississippi State Personnel Board. It is the 142
Legislature's intention that no employee's salary falls below the 143
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minimum salary established by the Mississippi State Personnel 144
Board. 145
The State Personnel Board shall determine and publish the 146
projected annual cost of "Personal Services" based on monthly and 147
year-to-date payroll expenditures in compliance with the 148
provisions of this act. 149
With the funds herein appropriated, it shall be the agency's 150
responsibility to ensure that no single personnel action or 151
combination of personnel actions, when annualized, exceeds the 152
Fiscal Year 2027 appropriation for "Personal Services" with the 153
exception of escalated funds. Further, it shall be the agency's 154
responsibility to ensure that funds required to be appropriated 155
for "Personal Services" for Fiscal Year 2028 do not exceed Fiscal 156
Year 2027 funds appropriated for that purpose unless programs or 157
positions are added to the agency's Fiscal Year 2027 budget by the 158
Mississippi Legislature. 159
If, at the time the agency takes any action to change 160
"Personal Services," the State Personnel Board determines that the 161
agency has taken or will take an action that would cause the 162
agency to exceed the funds appropriated in this act when 163
annualized for Fiscal Year 2027 or increase the need for "Personal 164
Services" for Fiscal Year 2028, when annualized, the State 165
Personnel Board shall process no salary actions until such time as 166
the requirements of the provisions of this section are met with 167
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the exception of new hires determined to be essential for the 168
agency. 169
When used in this section, "Vacancy Funding" shall mean funds 170
included in the Total Personal Services amount listed above and 171
designated for approved vacancies in Fiscal Year 2027. These 172
funds are to be utilized to increase the number of filled 173
headcounts that were authorized but unfilled as of the last day of 174
Fiscal Year 2026. If the agency fills additional headcounts after 175
March 1, 2026, until the end of Fiscal Year 2026, the amount of 176
available Vacancy Funding may be proportionally adjusted to 177
reflect the updated number of filled headcounts. The agency shall 178
be responsible for ensuring that "Vacancy Funding" is used to 179
increase headcounts and not for promotions, title changes, 180
in-range salary adjustments, or any other mechanism for increasing 181
salaries for current employees. 182
Any transfers or escalations shall be made in accordance with 183
the terms, conditions, and procedures established by law or 184
allowable under the terms set forth within this act. The State 185
Personnel Board shall not escalate positions or increase the 186
Personal Services total without written approval from the 187
Department of Finance and Administration. The Department of 188
Finance and Administration shall not provide written approval to 189
escalate any funds for salaries and/or headcounts without proof of 190
availability of new or additional funds above the appropriated 191
level. Unless specifically noted, all Fiscal Year 2026 escalated 192
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headcounts have been accounted for and shall be converted to 193
authorized time-limited headcounts. 194
No general funds authorized to be expended herein shall be 195
used to replace federal funds and/or other special funds used for 196
salaries authorized under the provisions of this act and which are 197
withdrawn and no longer available. 198
None of the funds herein appropriated shall be used in 199
violation of the Internal Revenue Service's Publication 15-A 200
relating to the reporting of income paid to contract employees, as 201
interpreted by the Office of the State Auditor. 202
If the agency's total authorized headcount decreases from 203
Fiscal Year 2026 to Fiscal Year 2027, it will be the agency's 204
discretion as to what headcounts are removed. 205
SECTION 6. In addition to all other sums herein 206
appropriated, the following sum, or so much thereof as may be 207
necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any money in the State 208
General Fund not otherwise appropriated, for the purpose of 209
defraying the expenses of the Mississippi Commission on the Status 210
of Women for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending 211
June 30, 2027................................... $ 44,125.00. 212
SECTION 7. In addition to all other sums herein 213
appropriated, the following sum, or so much thereof as may be 214
necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any money in the State 215
Treasury to the credit of the Mississippi Commission on the Status 216
of Women for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the 217
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commission for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending 218
June 30, 2027................................... $ 3,135.00. 219
This appropriation is made for the purpose of providing funds 220
to defray the expense of the Mississippi Commission on the Status 221
of Women as established pursuant to Sections 43-59-1 through 222
43-59-14, Mississippi Code of 1972. 223
SECTION 8. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of 224
Sections 6 and 7 of this act, not more than the following amount 225
of funds, with the exception of the provisions in this section, 226
shall be expended only for "Personal Services," which includes 227
"Vacancy Funding," for the following authorized number of 228
employment headcount: 229
FUNDING: 230
General Funds: $ 44,125.00 231
Special Funds: $ 0.00 232
Total Funds: $ 44,125.00 233
PERSONAL SERVICES: 234
Employee Salaries, Wages and 235
Fringe Benefits: $ 0.00 236
Progressions: $ 0.00 237
Vacancy Funding: $ 44,125.00 238
Total Personal Services: $ 44,125.00 239
AUTHORIZED HEADCOUNT: 240
Permanent: 1 241
Time-Limited: 0 242
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As used in this section, the term "Personal Services" shall 243
mean funds provided under the major object of expenditure category 244
Personal Services for Salaries, Wages, and Fringe Benefits. Funds 245
in this category shall not be transferred to any other category. 246
It is the intention of the Legislature to ensure compliance 247
with the Variable Compensation Plan, as outlined in Section 248
25-9-147, Mississippi Code of 1972. Payment from these funds 249
shall be in accordance with the Variable Compensation Plan 250
promulgated by the Mississippi State Personnel Board. It is the 251
Legislature's intention that no employee's salary falls below the 252
minimum salary established by the Mississippi State Personnel 253
Board. 254
The State Personnel Board shall determine and publish the 255
projected annual cost of "Personal Services" based on monthly and 256
year-to-date payroll expenditures in compliance with the 257
provisions of this act. 258
With the funds herein appropriated, it shall be the agency's 259
responsibility to ensure that no single personnel action or 260
combination of personnel actions, when annualized, exceeds the 261
Fiscal Year 2027 appropriation for "Personal Services" with the 262
exception of escalated funds. Further, it shall be the agency's 263
responsibility to ensure that funds required to be appropriated 264
for "Personal Services" for Fiscal Year 2028 do not exceed Fiscal 265
Year 2027 funds appropriated for that purpose unless programs or 266
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positions are added to the agency's Fiscal Year 2027 budget by the 267
Mississippi Legislature. 268
If, at the time the agency takes any action to change 269
"Personal Services," the State Personnel Board determines that the 270
agency has taken or will take an action that would cause the 271
agency to exceed the funds appropriated in this act when 272
annualized for Fiscal Year 2027 or increase the need for "Personal 273
Services" for Fiscal Year 2028, when annualized, the State 274
Personnel Board shall process no salary actions until such time as 275
the requirements of the provisions of this section are met with 276
the exception of new hires determined to be essential for the 277
agency. 278
When used in this section, "Vacancy Funding" shall mean funds 279
included in the Total Personal Services amount listed above and 280
designated for approved vacancies in Fiscal Year 2027. These 281
funds are to be utilized to increase the number of filled 282
headcounts that were authorized but unfilled as of the last day of 283
Fiscal Year 2026. If the agency fills additional headcounts after 284
March 1, 2026, until the end of Fiscal Year 2026, the amount of 285
available Vacancy Funding may be proportionally adjusted to 286
reflect the updated number of filled headcounts. The agency shall 287
be responsible for ensuring that "Vacancy Funding" is used to 288
increase headcounts and not for promotions, title changes, 289
in-range salary adjustments, or any other mechanism for increasing 290
salaries for current employees. 291
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Any transfers or escalations shall be made in accordance with 292
the terms, conditions, and procedures established by law or 293
allowable under the terms set forth within this act. The State 294
Personnel Board shall not escalate positions or increase the 295
Personal Services total without written approval from the 296
Department of Finance and Administration. The Department of 297
Finance and Administration shall not provide written approval to 298
escalate any funds for salaries and/or headcounts without proof of 299
availability of new or additional funds above the appropriated 300
level. Unless specifically noted, all Fiscal Year 2026 escalated 301
headcounts have been accounted for and shall be converted to 302
authorized time-limited headcounts. 303
No general funds authorized to be expended herein shall be 304
used to replace federal funds and/or other special funds used for 305
salaries authorized under the provisions of this act and which are 306
withdrawn and no longer available. 307
None of the funds herein appropriated shall be used in 308
violation of the Internal Revenue Service's Publication 15-A 309
relating to the reporting of income paid to contract employees, as 310
interpreted by the Office of the State Auditor. 311
If the agency's total authorized headcount decreases from 312
Fiscal Year 2026 to Fiscal Year 2027, it will be the agency's 313
discretion as to what headcounts are removed. 314
SECTION 9. In addition to all other sums herein 315
appropriated, the following sum, or so much thereof as may be 316
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necessary, is appropriated out of any money in the State General 317
Fund for the purpose of defraying the expenses of State Property 318
Insurance for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending 319
June 30, 2027................................... $ 21,351,906.00. 320
SECTION 10. Of the funds herein appropriated, it is the 321
intention of the Legislature that two (2) of the allotted 322
Full-Time Permanent Headcount in Section 3 of this act may be used 323
for performing related administrative duties of the State Property 324
Insurance Program. 325
SECTION 11. In addition to all other sums herein 326
appropriated, the following sum, or so much thereof as may be 327
necessary, is appropriated out of any money in the State General 328
Fund not otherwise appropriated, to the Department of Finance and 329
Administration for the purpose of providing a grant to the 330
Mississippi Home Corporation, for the fiscal year beginning 331
July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027.......... $ 1,810,227.00. 332
SECTION 12. The funds appropriated in Section 11 of this act 333
shall be targeted to individuals with disabilities or individuals 334
with serious mental illnesses who: 335
(1) Are being discharged from a state psychiatric hospital 336
after a stay of more than ninety (90) days; or, nursing facility, 337
or intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual 338
disabilities after a stay of more than ninety (90) days; or 339
(2) Have been discharged from a state psychiatric hospital 340
within the last two (2) years; and 341
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(a) Had multiple hospital visits in the last year due 342
to mental illness; or 343
(b) Are known to the mental health or state-housing 344
agency to have been arrested or incarcerated in the last year due 345
to conduct related to mental illness; or 346
(c) Are known to the mental health or state-housing 347
agency to have been homeless for one (1) full year or have had 348
four (4) or more episodes of homelessness in the last three (3) 349
years; or 350
(3) Lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence 351
and includes a subset for an individual who is exiting an 352
institution where he or she resided for ninety (90) days or less 353
and who resides in an emergency shelter or a place not meant for 354
human habitation immediately before entering that institution. 355
Any funds appropriated herein to hire additional staff or 356
employ staff shall only be used to implement this housing program. 357
SECTION 13. It is the intention of the Legislature that the 358
Mississippi Home Corporation shall provide an annual financial 359
report based upon the state's fiscal year to the Attorney General, 360
the Chairman of Senate Appropriations, the Chairman of House 361
Appropriations, and the Legislative Budget Office. 362
SECTION 14. It is the intention of the Legislature that none 363
of the funds appropriated under the provisions of this act for the 364
Mississippi Home Corporation (MHC) shall be expended for the 365
purpose of making a payment of any kind or for any purpose, 366
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directly or indirectly, to a member of the State of Mississippi 367
Legislature, state official, MHC board member, or person who has 368
been a member of the MHC within the last year. 369
SECTION 15. In addition to all other sums herein 370
appropriated, the following sum, or so much thereof as may be 371
necessary, is appropriated out of any money in the State General 372
Fund for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the Broadband 373
Expansion and Accessibility of Mississippi (BEAM) as established 374
in Sections 77-19-1 through 77-19-17, Mississippi Code of 1972, 375
for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending 376
June 30, 2027................................... $ 433,500.00. 377
SECTION 16. In addition to all other sums herein 378
appropriated, the following sum, or so much thereof as may be 379
necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any money in the State 380
Treasury to the credit of the Broadband Expansion and 381
Accessibility of Mississippi (BEAM) as established in Sections 382
77-19-1 through 77-19-17, Mississippi Code of 1972, for the 383
purpose of defraying the expenses of the commission for the fiscal 384
year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027............. 385
................................................ $ 175,914,472.00. 386
SECTION 17. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions 387
of Sections 15 and 16 of this act, not more than the following 388
amount of funds, with the exception of the provisions in this 389
section, shall be expended only for "Personal Services," which 390
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includes "Vacancy Funding," for the following authorized number of 391
employment headcount: 392
FUNDING: 393
General Funds: $ 300,000.00 394
Special Funds: $ 470,768.00 395
Total Funds: $ 770,768.00 396
PERSONAL SERVICES: 397
Employee Salaries, Wages and 398
Fringe Benefits: $ 770,768.00 399
Progressions: $ 0.00 400
Vacancy Funding: $ 0.00 401
Total Personal Services: $ 770,768.00 402
AUTHORIZED HEADCOUNT: 403
Permanent: 6 404
Time-Limited: 0 405
As used in this section, the term "Personal Services" shall 406
mean funds provided under the major object of expenditure category 407
Personal Services for Salaries, Wages, and Fringe Benefits. Funds 408
in this category shall not be transferred to any other category. 409
It is the intention of the Legislature to ensure compliance 410
with the Variable Compensation Plan, as outlined in Section 411
25-9-147, Mississippi Code of 1972. Payment from these funds 412
shall be in accordance with the Variable Compensation Plan 413
promulgated by the Mississippi State Personnel Board. It is the 414
Legislature's intention that no employee's salary falls below the 415
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minimum salary established by the Mississippi State Personnel 416
Board. 417
The State Personnel Board shall determine and publish the 418
projected annual cost of "Personal Services" based on monthly and 419
year-to-date payroll expenditures in compliance with the 420
provisions of this act. 421
With the funds herein appropriated, it shall be the agency's 422
responsibility to ensure that no single personnel action or 423
combination of personnel actions, when annualized, exceeds the 424
Fiscal Year 2027 appropriation for "Personal Services" with the 425
exception of escalated funds. Further, it shall be the agency's 426
responsibility to ensure that funds required to be appropriated 427
for "Personal Services" for Fiscal Year 2028 do not exceed Fiscal 428
Year 2027 funds appropriated for that purpose unless programs or 429
positions are added to the agency's Fiscal Year 2027 budget by the 430
Mississippi Legislature. 431
If, at the time the agency takes any action to change 432
"Personal Services," the State Personnel Board determines that the 433
agency has taken or will take an action that would cause the 434
agency to exceed the funds appropriated in this act when 435
annualized for Fiscal Year 2027 or increase the need for "Personal 436
Services" for Fiscal Year 2028, when annualized, the State 437
Personnel Board shall process no salary actions until such time as 438
the requirements of the provisions of this section are met with 439
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the exception of new hires determined to be essential for the 440
agency. 441
When used in this section, "Vacancy Funding" shall mean funds 442
included in the Total Personal Services amount listed above and 443
designated for approved vacancies in Fiscal Year 2027. These 444
funds are to be utilized to increase the number of filled 445
headcounts that were authorized but unfilled as of the last day of 446
Fiscal Year 2026. If the agency fills additional headcounts after 447
March 1, 2026, until the end of Fiscal Year 2026, the amount of 448
available Vacancy Funding may be proportionally adjusted to 449
reflect the updated number of filled headcounts. The agency shall 450
be responsible for ensuring that "Vacancy Funding" is used to 451
increase headcounts and not for promotions, title changes, 452
in-range salary adjustments, or any other mechanism for increasing 453
salaries for current employees. 454
Any transfers or escalations shall be made in accordance with 455
the terms, conditions, and procedures established by law or 456
allowable under the terms set forth within this act. The State 457
Personnel Board shall not escalate positions or increase the 458
Personal Services total without written approval from the 459
Department of Finance and Administration. The Department of 460
Finance and Administration shall not provide written approval to 461
escalate any funds for salaries and/or headcounts without proof of 462
availability of new or additional funds above the appropriated 463
level. Unless specifically noted, all Fiscal Year 2026 escalated 464
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headcounts have been accounted for and shall be converted to 465
authorized time-limited headcounts. 466
No general funds authorized to be expended herein shall be 467
used to replace federal funds and/or other special funds used for 468
salaries authorized under the provisions of this act and which are 469
withdrawn and no longer available. 470
None of the funds herein appropriated shall be used in 471
violation of the Internal Revenue Service's Publication 15-A 472
relating to the reporting of income paid to contract employees, as 473
interpreted by the Office of the State Auditor. 474
If the agency's total authorized headcount decreases from 475
Fiscal Year 2026 to Fiscal Year 2027, it will be the agency's 476
discretion as to what headcounts are removed. 477
SECTION 18. It is the intention of the Legislature that the 478
Department of Finance and Administration shall maintain complete 479
accounting and personnel records related to the expenditure of all 480
funds appropriated under this act and that such records shall be 481
in the same format and level of detail as maintained for Fiscal 482
Year 2026. It is further the intention of the Legislature that 483
the agency's budget request for Fiscal Year 2028 shall be 484
submitted to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee in a format 485
and level of detail comparable to the format and level of detail 486
provided during the Fiscal Year 2027 budget request process. 487
SECTION 19. The department is authorized to expend available 488
funds on technology or equipment upgrades or replacements when it 489
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will generate savings through efficiency or when the savings 490
generated from such upgrades or replacements exceed expenditures 491
thereof. 492
SECTION 20. It is the intention of the Legislature that 493
whenever two (2) or more bids are received by this agency for the 494
purchase of commodities or equipment, and whenever all things 495
stated in such received bids are equal with respect to price, 496
quality and service, the Mississippi Industries for the Blind 497
shall be given preference. A similar preference shall be given to 498
the Mississippi Industries for the Blind whenever purchases are 499
made without competitive bids. 500
SECTION 21. In addition to all other sums herein 501
appropriated, the following sum, or so much thereof as may be 502
necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any money in the Capital 503
Expense Fund, as created in Section 27-103-303, Mississippi Code 504
of 1972, and allocated in a manner as determined by the 505
Treasurer's Office to the credit of the Department of Finance and 506
Administration for the purpose of repair, renovation and 507
improvement of state-owned facilities, universities, and community 508
colleges for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending 509
June 30, 2027.................................... $ 35,000,000.00. 510
SECTION 22. The Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real 511
Property Management of the Office of General Services is hereby 512
expressly authorized and empowered to receive, budget and expend 513
any state, local or other source funds designated for supplemental 514
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funding of construction and/or repairs and renovation projects. 515
The Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management of 516
the Office of General Services shall not use any of the funds 517
authorized in this section to pay salaries. For the purposes of 518
this section, the Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property 519
Management of the Office of General Services does not have the 520
authority to escalate from the Capital Expense Fund or the Working 521
Cash-Stabilization Reserve Fund. 522
SECTION 23. Of the funds appropriated in Section 2 of this 523
act, it is the intention of the Legislature that an amount not to 524
exceed Four Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($4,500,000.00) 525
is authorized to be expended for the purpose of transferring funds 526
to the Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management 527
for the administration of projects for the repair and maintenance 528
of state-owned buildings. 529
SECTION 24. A report based on expenditures incurred during 530
the current and immediate past fiscal years shall be provided to 531
the Legislative Budget Office each regularly scheduled legislative 532
session. This report should reflect expenditures as a result of 533
the operation of the Robert E. Lee Building, the Woolfolk State 534
Office Building, the Gartin and Sillers Buildings, the Capitol 535
Buildings, the Central High School Building, the Robert G. Clark, 536
Jr. Building and other state buildings, and this report should 537
contain any steps taken to reduce operating costs. 538
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SECTION 25. It is the intention of the Legislature that no 539
state-owned aircraft shall be utilized by any person except for 540
official business only. 541
SECTION 26. Of the funds appropriated in Section 2 of this 542
act, an amount not to exceed One Hundred Thousand Dollars 543
($100,000.00) is authorized to be expended to defray any shortfall 544
in the Master Lease Purchase Program as defined in Section 545
31-7-10, Mississippi Code of 1972. 546
SECTION 27. Of the funds appropriated in Section 2 of this 547
act, Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000.00) shall be expended 548
from the Capitol Complex Improvement District Project Fund, as 549
established in Section 29-5-215, Mississippi Code of 1972. 550
SECTION 28. It is the intent of the Legislature that the 551
Department of Finance and Administration shall have the authority 552
to escalate its budget and expend such funds in a manner 553
consistent with the escalation of federal funds in an amount not 554
to exceed Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000.00) from the 555
Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund for the purpose of 556
defraying administrative and reporting costs. 557
SECTION 29. Notwithstanding any other provision, the agency 558
shall have the authority to escalate its headcount for any 559
additional operational needs related to Coronavirus State Fiscal 560
Recovery Funds, the Fire Grant Fund, and the Fire Equipment Grant 561
Fund upon approval of the Department of Finance and Administration 562
and the State Personnel Board. 563
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SECTION 30. The following sum, or so much of it as may be 564
necessary, is reappropriated out of any money in the Capital City 565
Water/Sewer Projects Fund not otherwise appropriated, to the 566
Department of Finance and Administration, as authorized in Senate 567
Bill No. 2044, 2025 First Extraordinary Session, for the purpose 568
of providing funds to assist the City of Jackson, Mississippi, in 569
paying costs associated with construction, reconstruction, 570
repairs, upgrades and improvements to the City of Jackson's water 571
and sewer systems and related facilities as authorized in Section 572
29-5-251, established in Section 37-185-31, Mississippi Code of 573
1972, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending 574
June 30, 2027................................... $ 25,302,643.00. 575
Notwithstanding the amount reappropriated under this section, 576
in no event shall the amount expended exceed the unexpended 577
balance of the funds remaining as of June 30, 2026, or change the 578
purpose for which the funds were originally authorized. 579
SECTION 31. The following sum, or so much thereof as may be 580
necessary, is reappropriated out of any money in the Coronavirus 581
State Fiscal Recovery Fund not otherwise appropriated, to the 582
Department of Finance and Administration, as authorized in Senate 583
Bill No. 2044, 2025 First Extraordinary Session, for the purpose 584
of defraying eligible administration and reporting expenses 585
related to the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund for the 586
fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027...... 587
............................................... $ 12,187,789.00. 588
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Notwithstanding the amount reappropriated under this section, 589
in no event shall the amount expended exceed the unexpended 590
balance of the funds remaining as of June 30, 2026, or change the 591
purpose for which the funds were originally authorized. 592
SECTION 32. The following sum, or so much thereof as may be 593
necessary, is reappropriated out of any money in the Capital 594
Expense Fund not otherwise appropriated for the Department of 595
Finance and Administration for the purpose of reauthorizing the 596
expenditure of Capital Expense Fund, as reappropriated in Senate 597
Bill No. 2044, 2025 First Extraordinary Session, for the 598
Mississippi Semi-quincentennial Commission for the fiscal year 599
beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027.................. 600
.................................................. $ 1,158,446.00. 601
Notwithstanding the amount reappropriated under this section, 602
the amount that may be expended under the authority of this 603
section shall not exceed the unexpended balance of the funds 604
remaining as of June 30, 2026, from the amount authorized for the 605
previous fiscal year. In addition, this reappropriation shall not 606
change the purpose for which the funds were originally authorized. 607
SECTION 33. The following sum, or so much thereof as may be 608
necessary, is reappropriated out of any money in the Capital 609
Expense Fund not otherwise appropriated for the Department of 610
Finance and Administration for the purpose of reauthorizing the 611
expenditure of Capital Expense Fund, as authorized in SB 2044, 612
2025 First Extraordinary Session, for the maintenance, refresh, 613
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and upgrades to SPAHRS for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, 614
and ending June 30, 2027.......................... $ 2,679,278.00. 615
Notwithstanding the amount reappropriated under this section, 616
the amount that may be expended under the authority of this 617
section, shall not exceed the unexpended balance of the funds 618
remaining as of June 30, 2026, from the amount authorized for the 619
previous fiscal year. In addition, this reappropriation shall not 620
change the purpose for which the funds were originally authorized. 621
SECTION 34. The remaining balance of any funds initially 622
disbursed pursuant to the authority of Section 29(bbbb), (nn), and 623
(s), Chapter 102, Laws of 2021, is reappropriated to the 624
Department of Finance and Administration for the purposes of 625
defraying certain costs for the period beginning upon passage, and 626
ending June 30, 2027.............................. $ 6,130,000.00. 627
SECTION 35. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions 628
of Section 34 of this act, Six Million One Hundred Thirty Thousand 629
Dollars ($6,130,000.00), shall be provided for such purposes as 630
follows: 631
(a) To assist the City of Ocean Springs in paying the costs 632
associated with paving of sidewalks............... $ 1,000,000.00. 633
(b) To assist the City of Rolling Fork in paying the costs 634
associated with supporting storm-related damages to city property, 635
including, but not limited to, construction, renovation, and 636
repairs to the police station, city hall, fire station, and other 637
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city-owned facilities, along with restoring essential municipal 638
functions for public health and safety............ $ 130,000.00. 639
(c) To assist the City of Vicksburg in paying the costs 640
associated with repairs, overlay, and restriping of portions of 641
Clay Street and Washington Street................. $ 5,000,000.00. 642
SECTION 36. Of the funds appropriated in Section 2 of this 643
act, Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00), or so much 644
thereof, shall be derived out of any money in the State Treasury 645
to the credit of the Capital Expense Fund, as created in Section 646
27-103-303, Mississippi Code of 1972, and allocated in a manner as 647
determined by the Treasurer's Office to the Department of Finance 648
and Administration to provide funding to the United Way of the 649
Capital Area, Inc., to support the 211 Mississippi helpline, a 650
statewide resource and referral service that connects callers with 651
a variety of health and human service resources specific to their 652
needs and geographical area. 653
SECTION 37. Of the funds appropriated in Section 2 of this 654
act, Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000.00), or so much 655
thereof, shall be derived out of any money in the State Treasury 656
to the credit of the Capital Expense Fund, as created in Section 657
27-103-303, Mississippi Code of 1972, and allocated in a manner as 658
determined by the Treasurer's Office to the Department of Finance 659
and Administration for the purpose of SPAHRS updates. 660
SECTION 38. Of the funds appropriated in Section 2 of this 661
act, Four Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($4,500,000.00), 662
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or so much thereof, shall be derived out of any money in the State 663
Treasury to the credit of the Capital Expense Fund, as created in 664
Section 27-103-303, Mississippi Code of 1972, and allocated in a 665
manner as determined by the Treasurer's Office to the Department 666
of Finance and Administration for the purpose of fire alarm 667
inspection and updates. 668
SECTION 39. Of the funds in Section 2 of this act, Six 669
Hundred Eight Million One Hundred Thousand Dollars 670
($608,100,000.00), or so much thereof as may be necessary, shall 671
be derived out of the following funds in the State Treasury to the 672
credit of the Department of Finance and Administration: 673
(a) 2022 IHL Capital Improvements Fund..... $ 75,100,000.00. 674
(b) 2022 Community and Junior Colleges Capital Improvements 675
Fund............................................. $ 40,000,000.00. 676
(c) 2022 State Agencies Capital Improvements Fund........... 677
................................................. $ 30,000,000.00. 678
(d) 2026 Local Improvements Projects Fund................... 679
................................................. $ 253,000,000.00. 680
(e) USM Science Research Fund.............. $ 30,000,000.00. 681
(f) Cancer Center Fund..................... $ 100,000,000.00. 682
(g) Vicksburg National Military Park Fund................... 683
................................................. $ 30,000,000.00. 684
(h) Mississippi State University Veterinary School Fund..... 685
................................................. $ 32,000,000.00. 686
(i) Mississippi Cybersecurity Center Fund................... 687
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................................................. $ 18,000,000.00. 688
The disbursements of funds by the Department of Finance and 689
Administration under the provisions of the general bill, Senate 690
Bill No. 2189, 2026 Regular Session, are made pursuant to the 691
authority granted to the department to spend those funds by this 692
appropriation bill. 693
SECTION 40. Of the funds appropriated in Section 2 of this 694
act, Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000.00), or so much thereof as 695
may be necessary, is appropriated out of any money in the State 696
Treasury to the credit of the FIRE Grant Fund as created in 697
Section 3 of House Bill 939, 2026 Regular Session. 698
SECTION 41. Of the funds appropriated in Section 2 of this 699
act, Four Million Dollars ($4,000,000.00), or so much thereof as 700
may be necessary, is appropriated out of any money in the State 701
Treasury to the credit of the Fire Equipment Grant Fund as created 702
in Section 4 of House Bill 939, 2026 Regular Session. 703
SECTION 42. Of the funds in Section 2 of this act, Fourteen 704
Million Seven Hundred Twenty-nine Thousand Dollars 705
($14,729,000.00), or so much thereof as may be necessary, shall be 706
derived out of the Gulf Coast Restoration Fund Revolving Loan 707
Program in the State Treasury to the credit of the Department of 708
Finance and Administration for the following projects and as 709
outlined in House Bill 1648, 2026 Regular Session: 710
(a) For the City of Ocean Springs for the Public Works 711
Redevelopment and Relocation Phases 1 and 2....... $ 1,500,000.00. 712
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(b) For Superior Optical Labs, LLC for their Facility 713
Expansion for Government Contracts................ $ 5,000,000.00. 714
(c For Copper Llama, LLC for the Copper Llama Distillery.... 715
.................................................. $ 350,000.00. 716
(d) For the Memorial Hospital Foundation for the Memorial 717
Multispecialty Center............................. $ 3,000,000.00. 718
(e) For Heritage Spring Water............... $ 704,000.00. 719
(f) For Singing River Health System for the Phase II 720
Healthcare Academy Expansion Initiative........... $ 675,000.00. 721
(g) For BEST Holdings for the Tomaston Medical Park Phase 1A 722
Development – The Medical Center of Mississippi in Woolmarket..... 723
.................................................. $ 2,000,000.00. 724
(h) For William Carey University for the Tradition Campus 725
Student Housing................................... $ 1,500,000.00. 726
SECTION 43. Contingent upon the receipt of funds as provided 727
in Section 3 of House Bill 1571, 2026 Regular Session, it is the 728
intent of the Legislature that the Department of Finance and 729
Administration shall have the authority to escalate its budget and 730
expend such funds in a manner consistent with the escalation of 731
federal funds in an amount not to exceed Two Hundred Million 732
Dollars ($200,000,000.00) from the Coronavirus State Fiscal 733
Recovery Fund for the purposes of eligible uses at the direction 734
of the Governor. 735
SECTION 44. With the funds appropriated herein, the 736
Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration is authorized 737
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ST: Appropriation; Finance and Administration,
Department of.
to make payments for expenses incurred prior to fiscal year 2025 738
for an amount not to exceed Sixty-one Thousand Six Hundred 739
Fifty-one Dollars and Twenty-five cents ($61,651.25). These 740
payments are for Bureau of Building invoices. 741
SECTION 45. It is the intention of the Legislature that the 742
funds herein appropriated shall be expended in compliance with 743
Section 27-104-25, Mississippi Code of 1972, that no state agency 744
shall incur obligations or indebtedness in excess of their 745
appropriation and that the responsible officers, either personally 746
or upon their official bonds, shall be held responsible for 747
actions contrary to this provision. 748
SECTION 46. The money herein appropriated shall be paid by 749
the State Treasurer out of any money in the State Treasury to the 750
credit of the proper fund or funds as set forth in this act, upon 751
warrants issued by the State Fiscal Officer; and the State Fiscal 752
Officer shall issue his warrants upon requisitions signed by the 753
proper person, officer or officers, in the manner provided by law. 754
SECTION 47. This act shall take effect and be in force from 755
and after July 1, 2026. 756