Judicial office allowance; increase for circuit and chancery.

SB 2006 increases the annual office operating allowance for Mississippi circuit and chancery judges to $15,000, covering expenses like office rent, equipment, and travel for legal education. It also creates a new $260,000 annual fund per judge (managed by the Administrative Office of Courts) to hire approved support staff (e.g., law clerks, secretaries), requiring prior approval before hiring. The bill preserves an additional $7,000 annual allowance for judges without a county-provided office and is scheduled to take effect July 1, 2026. This directly affects all circuit judges and chancellors in Mississippi by changing their office funding structure.