HB 17 Mississippi House · 2025 First Extraordinary Session

Appropriation; Child Protection Services, Department of.

HB 17 appropriates $136.49 million from general funds and $177.90 million from special funds to the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). The bill specifically allocates $124.89 million for "Personal Services" (covering salaries, benefits, and vacancy funding) to support 1,507 permanent and 412 time-limited staff positions. It strictly prohibits using these funds for salary increases beyond budgeted amounts, requires using vacancy funds only to fill open positions (not for raises), and mandates detailed accounting of all expenditures. This funding directly affects the department’s ability to operate child protection services, including staffing and operational costs, without exceeding the approved budget limits.

Issues: ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

May 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

House Passage

May 2025

Senate Passage

May 2025

Signed into Law

Jun 2025

Introduced May 29, 2025 Signed Jun 17, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Passed the lower → Current version · 1 edit

MINOR

The bill title was updated from 'As Passed the House' to 'As Sent to Governor', indicating it has completed the legislative process and is now awaiting the governor's signature. No substantive policy changes, funding amounts, or eligibility criteria were modified in this version.

TECHNICAL

Title updated to reflect the bill's current status in the legislative process, changing from 'As Passed the House' to 'As Sent to Governor'.

As Introduced → As Passed the lower · 10 edits

MAJOR

The bill was amended to clarify funding restrictions, add new operational requirements, and include specific allocations for trafficking services and children's trust funds. The House version added language requiring that general funds not replace federal or special funds, established a preference for the Mississippi Industries for the Blind in procurement, and authorized technology upgrades that generate savings. It also reappropriated $2.5 million for IT system development and added authority to escalate headcount for Coronavirus recovery funds with proper approvals.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include specific operational directives for the Department of Child Protection Services, including procurement preferences, technology investment authority, and new allocations for trafficking victim services and children's trust fund support.

FISCAL

Added $93,601 allocation to Mississippi Children's Trust Fund from General Funds and $250,000 for 24-hour hotline services for trafficking victims.

Reappropriated $2,500,000 from Capital Expense Fund for IT system developments.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement that general funds cannot replace withdrawn federal or special funds used for salaries.

Added preference for Mississippi Industries for the Blind in procurement when bids are equal.

Authorized technology or equipment upgrades when they generate efficiency savings.

Added authority to escalate headcount for Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds with proper approvals.

Added requirement that agency budget request for Fiscal Year 2027 be submitted to Joint Legislative Budget Committee in comparable detail to FY 2026.

Added provision that if authorized headcount decreases from FY 2025 to FY 2026, agency has discretion on which headcounts are removed.

Added requirement that all FY 2025 escalated headcounts be converted to authorized time-limited headcounts.

DEFINITION

Added clarification that six new headcounts are included in the authorized headcount for Fiscal Year 2026.

Floor votes · Senate May 29, 2025 · House May 28, 2025

How they voted

39–8

Passed · 12 other

Total votes 59

May 29, 2025

D Democratic20

8 Yea 8 Nay 4

40% Nay

R Republican39

31 Yea 8

79% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jun 17, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by Governor

executive

May 29, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed

upper

May 29, 2025

Upper · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass

upper

May 29, 2025

Committee

Referred To Appropriations

upper

May 29, 2025

Introduced

Transmitted To Senate

lower

May 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed

lower

May 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass

lower

May 28, 2025

Committee

Referred To Appropriations A

lower

1 primary · 8 co-sponsors