SB 2035 Mississippi Senate · 2025 First Extraordinary Session

Appropriation; Veterans Affairs Board.

SB 2035 appropriates $5.67 million from the General Fund and $3.63 million from special funds to cover the State Veterans Affairs Board's salaries and operations for fiscal year 2026. It also allocates $6.36 million from the General Fund and $54.54 million from special funds to support Mississippi State Veterans Homes operations and staff salaries during the same period. The bill specifies exact funding amounts for "Personal Services" (covering salaries and benefits) and sets authorized headcounts (40 permanent and 25 time-limited positions for the Board; 265 permanent and 317 time-limited for Veterans Homes), with strict rules preventing fund transfers or salary increases beyond approved amounts.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

May 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

Senate Passage

May 2025

House Passage

May 2025

Signed into Law

Jun 2025

Introduced May 28, 2025 Signed Jun 4, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Passed the upper → Current version · 1 edit

MINOR

The bill title was updated from 'As Passed the Senate' to 'As Sent to Governor', indicating the bill has completed its legislative journey and is now awaiting the governor's signature or veto. This is a procedural change reflecting the bill's current status in the legislative process rather than a substantive policy modification.

TECHNICAL

The bill header was changed from 'As Passed the Senate' to 'As Sent to Governor', indicating the bill has moved to the final stage of the legislative process.

As Introduced → As Passed the upper · 11 edits

MAJOR

The bill was amended to add new sections covering the Mississippi State Veterans Homes, establish transfer authority between the Veterans Affairs Board and Veterans Homes budgets, create a new program for indigent/low-income surviving spouses, and add capital expense funding for a memorial replacement and a new veterans home. The original version only covered the State Veterans Affairs Board, while the amended version expands coverage to include the State Veterans Homes with separate funding allocations.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from only the State Veterans Affairs Board to include the Mississippi State Veterans Homes, adding new sections for veterans home operations, capital expenses, and a new care program for indigent surviving spouses.

FISCAL

Added Section 4 appropriating $6,357,359.00 from General Fund and Section 5 appropriating $54,539,660.00 from Special Fund for Mississippi State Veterans Homes operations.

Added Section 6 authorizing 582 total positions (265 permanent, 317 time-limited) for the State Veterans Homes.

Added Section 11 authorizing up to $5,000,000 from fund 3373200000 for operating state veterans homes in accordance with federal fund escalation.

Added Section 13 appropriating $375,000 from Capital Expense Fund for Gulf War Memorial replacement at State Veterans Cemetery.

Added Section 14 appropriating $6,000,000 from Capital Expense Fund for start-up and stand-up operating costs at Tradition State Veterans Home.

ELIGIBILITY

Added Section 8 providing $250,000 for care of indigent/low-income Mississippi veterans and nonveteran surviving spouses who meet specific criteria.

REQUIREMENT

Added Section 7 granting Executive Director authority to transfer up to 25% of budgets between State Veterans Affairs Board and Mississippi State Veterans Homes with justification requirements.

Added Section 9 maintaining State Veterans Affairs Board authority for Mississippi Veterans Memorial Cemeteries planning and construction.

Added Section 10 requiring complete accounting and personnel records in same format as Fiscal Year 2025, with Fiscal Year 2027 budget requests submitted to Joint Legislative Budget Committee.

Added Section 12 requiring preference for Mississippi Industries for the Blind in commodity/equipment purchases.

TECHNICAL

Changed header from 'As Introduced' to 'As Passed the Senate' with updated session information.

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

How they voted

40–8

Passed · 11 other

Total votes 59

May 28, 2025

D Democratic20

7 Yea 8 Nay 5

40% Nay

R Republican39

33 Yea 6

84% 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 28, 2025

Committee

Referred To Appropriations A

lower

May 28, 2025

Introduced

Transmitted To House

upper

May 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed

upper

May 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass

upper

May 28, 2025

Committee

Referred To Appropriations

upper

1 primary · 4 co-sponsors