Appropriation; Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, Department of.

HB 1737 appropriates $17.3 million from Mississippi's General Fund and $73.8 million from dedicated sources (including $5.75 million from gasoline taxes) to fund the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks for fiscal year 2026. It authorizes 518 permanent and 42 temporary positions, with strict rules prohibiting the use of funds for salary increases beyond budgeted amounts or to replace federal funds. The bill requires the department to submit detailed spending reports for Wildlife Heritage funds by September 1 each year and mandates that personnel expenditures not exceed projections from the Legislative Budget Office. This funding supports conservation operations, parks maintenance, and programs like Project WILD, directly affecting the department's ability to manage natural resources and public facilities.