Private contractor for correctional services; rate shall be based on classification of inmate.

SB 2243 changes how Mississippi pays private prisons for housing inmates. Instead of a flat rate for all inmates, contracts must now base payment on each inmate's classification (e.g., risk level or security needs). The bill also requires private operators to save the state at least 10% compared to public facility costs, with annual cost reviews by the legislature's PEER committee. This directly affects private prison contractors and the Mississippi Department of Corrections, altering how they budget and contract for correctional services starting July 2025.