Appropriation; Forestry Commission.
HB 1893 allocates $32.3 million in total funding (comprising $18.3 million from general funds and $14.0 million from special funds) to support the Mississippi State Forestry Commission for fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). The bill specifies that funds must cover personnel costs, including salaries, wages, and fringe benefits, within strict headcount limits (252 permanent and 7 time-limited positions). It requires the agency to adhere to budgeted personnel spending limits, prohibits using funds for in-range salary increases for employees earning $70,000+ annually, and mandates strict accounting for all expenditures. This is a funding bill, not a policy change, directly affecting the Forestry Commission's operational budget.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Feb 20, 2026
Signed Apr 6, 2026
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What changed between versions
As Passed the lower
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Current version
·
4 edits
MODERATE
This bill was amended to increase the total appropriation for the State Forestry Commission from approximately $18.3 million to $18.4 million, primarily by raising the special fund allocation. The changes also adjusted the authorized headcount for permanent positions from 252 to 264 and shifted the deadline for filling vacancies from February 1 to March 1, 2026, to allow more time for staffing.
FISCAL
The total appropriation for the State Forestry Commission increased by $373,820, with a significant portion of the increase coming from the special fund allocation.
The amount of General Funds appropriated decreased slightly, while Special Funds appropriated increased substantially.
REQUIREMENT
The authorized number of permanent employees increased from 252 to 264, allowing the agency to hire more staff.
TIMELINE
The deadline for utilizing Vacancy Funding to fill authorized but unfilled positions was extended from February 1, 2026, to March 1, 2026.
Floor votes · Senate Mar 12, 2026 · House Feb 19, 2026
How they voted
51–0
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 52
Mar 12, 2026
D
Democratic18
100% Yea
R
Republican34
97% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
18
Key actions
8
Committee
6
Amendments
1
Apr 6, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor
executive
Mar 29, 2026
Lower · Passed
Conference Report Adopted
lower
Mar 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
Conference Report Filed
lower
Mar 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed As Amended
upper
Mar 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
Amended
upper
Mar 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
Title Suff Do Pass As Amended
upper
Feb 27, 2026
Committee
Referred To Appropriations
upper
Feb 20, 2026
Introduced
Transmitted To Senate
lower
Feb 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
Feb 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Title Suff Do Pass
lower
Feb 16, 2026
Committee
Referred To Appropriations B;Appropriations A
lower
1 primary · 7 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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