Appropriation; Forestry Commission.

HB 1726 appropriates $17.27 million from the State General Fund and $13.50 million from a special fund to support the Mississippi State Forestry Commission for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). The bill authorizes 246 permanent and 7 temporary positions, mandates strict budget adherence (including prohibiting salary increases without new funds), and requires the Commission to track performance metrics like forest suppression time (target: 2.8 hours) and acres burned under prescribed burns (target: 15,000 acres). It also directs $200,000 toward the Agriculture Department’s beaver control program and requires all funds to comply with state accounting rules and procurement preferences for Mississippi Industries for the Blind. The Commission must submit detailed budget requests for 2027 based on these performance targets.