SB 3067 Mississippi Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Appropriation; Public Safety, Department of.

SB 3067 appropriates $165 million from the State General Fund and $111 million from the State Treasury to fund the Mississippi Department of Public Safety for fiscal year 2027 (July 2026-June 2027). It allocates $153 million specifically for "Personal Services" (employee salaries, wages, and benefits) to cover 1,751 authorized positions (1,685 permanent and 66 time-limited). The bill requires that "Vacancy Funding" be used only to fill unfilled positions - not for raises, promotions, or salary increases - and mandates strict budget adherence, with the State Personnel Board monitoring compliance to prevent overspending. This funding ensures the department can operate within its allocated budget while maintaining staffing levels.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Feb 23, 2026 Signed Apr 8, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Passed the upper → Current version · 8 edits

MODERATE

This bill was updated from its Senate passage version to the version sent to the Governor, primarily increasing the total appropriation for the Department of Public Safety from $165.2 million to $167.8 million. The changes include higher funding for employee salaries, vacancy positions, and specific capital projects like HVAC repairs and 3D imaging equipment. Additionally, new sections were added to authorize three new job titles and allow for a $10 million salary escalation.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include specific authorization for three new job titles (Physician Supervisor, Forensic Laboratory Scientist II, and Forensic Laboratory Technician) and new funding allocations for HVAC repairs and 3D imaging units.

FISCAL

The total appropriation increased from $165,175,650.00 to $167,789,465.00, with corresponding increases in General Funds and Personal Services allocations.

The budget for 'Vacancy Funding' increased from $4,189,954.00 to $6,252,267.00 to cover unfilled authorized positions.

New Section 28 authorizes up to $10,000,000 in salary escalations for employees, subject to approval by the Department of Finance and Administration.

New Section 32 allocates $2,600,000 for the repair and replacement of HVAC systems at the Biloxi Forensics Laboratory.

New Section 31 allocates $180,000 to purchase three FARO 3D Imaging Units.

SCOPE

Three new authorized headcount positions were added: one Physician Supervisor, one Forensic Laboratory Scientist II, and one Forensic Laboratory Technician.

REQUIREMENT

Section 26 was expanded to require written pre-approval from the Department of Finance and Administration and the Department of Archives and History before any bids can be solicited for the Capitol Security Platform project.

TIMELINE

The effective date clause was simplified to state the act takes effect July 1, 2026, removing the previous repeal date of June 30, 2026.

As Introduced → Committee Substitute · 8 edits

MODERATE

The bill was rewritten from scratch as a Committee Substitute, replacing the original text with a more detailed and structured appropriation for the Department of Public Safety. The primary changes include specific performance targets (e.g., reducing fatalities, increasing arrests), new restrictions on how funds can be used (such as prohibiting quota-based speeding tickets), and explicit allocations for specific programs like human trafficking coordination and forensic case backlogs.

Scope change

The scope expanded significantly to include detailed performance metrics, specific program funding allocations, and new operational restrictions that were not present in the original version.

REQUIREMENT

Added a comprehensive list of specific performance measures for Fiscal Year 2027, including targets for reducing fatalities, increasing DUI arrests, and processing specific numbers of forensic cases and driver licenses.

Added strict rules regarding 'Vacancy Funding,' specifying that these funds can only be used to fill authorized but unfilled positions and cannot be used for promotions or salary increases for current employees.

Added a requirement for the Department of Public Safety to submit an annual report detailing any non-employee individuals transported in Highway Patrol aircraft.

ENFORCEMENT

Explicitly prohibited the Department of Public Safety from issuing traffic citations on a 'quota basis' for speed limit violations.

FISCAL

Allocated specific funds for new initiatives, including a $250,000 grant for a Statewide Human Trafficking Coordinator and specific amounts for forensic case backlogs and driver license system replacement.

Replaced the original Section 1 and Section 2 with new Sections 1 and 2 that provide a total appropriation of $165,175,650.00, broken down into General Funds and Special Funds, replacing the previous text which had different line items.

Created a new Section 25 to reappropriate $6,431,377.00 from the Capital Expense Fund for specific purposes like bulletproof vests, forensic equipment, and driver license system upgrades.

DEFINITION

Added a detailed definition of 'Personal Services' to clarify that it includes salaries, wages, and fringe benefits, and explicitly stated that these funds cannot be transferred to other categories.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 19, 2026 · House Mar 12, 2026

How they voted

50–0

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 52

Feb 19, 2026

D Democratic18

17 Yea 1

94% Yea

R Republican34

33 Yea 1

97% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 8, 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

Lower · Passed

Passed As Amended

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

Amended

lower

Mar 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass As Amended

lower

Feb 24, 2026

Committee

Referred To Appropriations C;Appropriations A

lower

Feb 23, 2026

Introduced

Transmitted To House

upper

Feb 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed

upper

Feb 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass Comm Sub

upper

Feb 17, 2026

Committee

Referred To Appropriations

upper

1 primary · 5 co-sponsors