HB 41 Mississippi House · 2025 First Extraordinary Session

Appropriation; Arts Commission.

HB 41 appropriates $1.6 million from general funds and $6.49 million from special funds (including $1.49 million from the Education Enhancement Fund) to cover the Mississippi Arts Commission's expenses for fiscal year 2026. The bill specifically allocates $1.49 million to fund arts education programs in public schools, including teacher training, grants, and the "Whole Schools Initiative." It strictly limits $1.098 million of the total funds to "Personal Services" (salaries, benefits, and vacancy funding for staff), prohibiting use for promotions or salary increases beyond approved headcounts. The Commission must maintain detailed financial records and ensure funds are spent only as specified, directly affecting its staff and public school arts programs.

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 4, 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 the bill has completed the legislative process and is now awaiting the Governor's signature. No substantive policy changes, funding amounts, or scope modifications were made to the bill's text.

TECHNICAL

Updated bill status designation from 'As Passed the House' to 'As Sent to Governor' to reflect procedural progress.

As Introduced → As Passed the lower · 18 edits

MAJOR

The bill was amended to add new funding sources and specific expenditure requirements for the Mississippi Arts Commission. Key additions include $1,490,000 from the Education Enhancement Fund for arts programs in public schools, $300,000 from the Capital Expense Fund for the International Ballet Competition, and $3,500,000 from the Capital Expense Fund for the Building Fund for the Arts. The bill also clarifies headcount authorization, adds restrictions on using general funds to replace withdrawn federal funds, and includes a new preference for the Mississippi Industries for the Blind in purchasing decisions.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include additional funding sources and specific program allocations beyond the original appropriation for the Mississippi Arts Commission's general expenses.

FISCAL

Added $1,490,000 from the Education Enhancement Fund specifically for training educators and promoting arts programs in public schools, including $1,040,000 for the Whole Schools Initiative.

Added $300,000 from the Capital Expense Fund to support the International Ballet Competition.

Added $3,500,000 from the Capital Expense Fund to provide for the Building Fund for the Arts.

Modified Section 5 to specify that $1,490,000 from the Education Enhancement Fund shall be derived from the Education Enhancement Fund deposited pursuant to specific Mississippi Code sections.

Modified Section 9 to specify that $300,000 shall be derived from the Capital Expense Fund allocated in a manner determined by the Treasurer's Office.

Modified Section 10 to specify that $3,500,000 shall be derived from the Capital Expense Fund allocated in a manner determined by the Treasurer's Office.

REQUIREMENT

Added Section 5 requiring the Mississippi Arts Commission to maintain detailed accounting and personnel records comparable to Fiscal Year 2025 standards.

Added Section 6 establishing a preference for the Mississippi Industries for the Blind when purchasing commodities or equipment, particularly when bids are equal in price, quality, and service.

Added Section 9 reappropriating $3,288,781 from the Capital Expense Fund for the Building for the Arts project, with restrictions on exceeding unexpended balances from the previous fiscal year.

Added Section 10 authorizing $3,500,000 for the Building Fund for the Arts from the Capital Expense Fund.

Added Section 11 reappropriating $3,288,781 for the Building for the Arts as authorized in House Bill 1822 from the previous session.

Added Section 12 specifying that funds shall be paid by the State Treasurer upon warrants issued by the State Fiscal Officer based on signed requisitions.

Added Section 13 establishing that the act takes effect on July 1, 2025.

Added restrictions prohibiting the use of general funds to replace federal funds or other special funds that are withdrawn and no longer available.

Added compliance requirements with IRS Publication 15-A regarding reporting of income paid to contract employees as interpreted by the Office of the State Auditor.

Added provision that if the agency's total authorized headcount decreases from Fiscal Year 2025 to 2026, the agency has discretion in determining which headcounts are removed.

Added authorization for one new headcount for Program Management and Support in Fiscal Year 2026.

Modified Section 11 to clarify that the reappropriation shall not change the purpose for which the funds were originally authorized and shall not exceed the unexpended balance remaining as of June 30, 2025.

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

How they voted

39–6

Passed · 14 other

Total votes 59

May 29, 2025

D Democratic20

9 Yea 5 Nay 6

45% Yea

R Republican39

30 Yea 1 Nay 8

76% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jun 4, 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