Appropriation; Education, Department of.

HB 42 appropriates over $5.2 billion in state funds for Mississippi's K-12 education system for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It directly funds public schools, the State Department of Education, vocational programs, and specific initiatives like literacy programs, school facilities, special education services, and the Mississippi Student Funding Formula. Key provisions include $2.7 billion for the general education budget, $268 million for the student funding formula, and targeted allocations for programs such as Early Learning Collaboratives ($21.2 million) and Mississippi School for Math and Science ($1.1 million). The bill also restricts $37.6 million in funds to "Personal Services" (salaries and benefits) for education staff, requiring compliance with state personnel pay rules. This is a funding bill, not a policy change, directing existing state resources to existing education programs.