Appropriation; IHL to increase university faculty salaries closer to the SREB average.

HB 1798 appropriates $72.66 million from Mississippi's State General Fund to the Board of Trustees for State Institutions of Higher Learning. The funds are specifically designated to increase salaries for faculty at Mississippi's public universities, aiming to bring their pay closer to the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) average for similar positions. This appropriation applies to the 2026-2027 fiscal year (July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027), with payments to be made by the State Treasurer upon proper requisitions. The bill directly affects university faculty across Mississippi's public higher education system through targeted salary adjustments.