SB 3072 Mississippi Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Appropriation; Mental Health, Department of.

SB 3072 appropriates $704.7 million for Mississippi's Department of Mental Health for fiscal year 2027, combining $253.88 million from general funds and $450.85 million from special sources. Key allocations include $2.0 million for mental health training for law enforcement and court liaisons, $1.1 million for physician services at community centers, and $16.8 million for department operations and Medicaid payments. The bill specifies that funds must be used for "Personal Services" like salaries and cannot be diverted to other purposes, with strict limits on annual spending. It directly affects the Department of Mental Health and its ability to operate existing mental health programs and services.

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 9, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Passed the upper → Current version · 8 edits

MODERATE

This bill was revised to increase total appropriations for the Department of Mental Health from approximately $316 million to over $600 million for Fiscal Year 2027. The changes include significant funding boosts for special services like crisis intervention, Alzheimer's care, and substance use disorder treatment, alongside adjustments to vacancy funding and headcount limits.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include new specific funding allocations for opioid settlement funds, expanded waiver slots for intellectual/developmental disabilities, and new partnerships for homeless housing and maternal mental health.

FISCAL

Total appropriations increased significantly, with General Funds rising by over $176,000 and Special Funds increasing by nearly $30 million.

Vacancy Funding for hiring new employees was reduced from $25.4 million to $15.8 million, while Fringe Benefits increased by nearly $10 million.

New Section 23 allocates $2.47 million for court liaisons, crisis training, and 988 call centers.

New Sections 29 and 30 utilize $12.5 million from the Opioid Settlement Fund for dementia care, substance use treatment beds, and maternal mental health initiatives.

Funding was added to increase the ID/DD Home and Community-Based Waiver program from 3,000 to 3,125 slots.

TIMELINE

The effective date for vacancy funding adjustments was changed from February 1 to March 1, 2026.

The repeal date of June 30, 2026, was removed, clarifying that the act remains in force indefinitely starting July 1, 2026.

REQUIREMENT

New Section 28 requires recipients of funds under Sections 29 and 30 to certify they have not entered into prohibited contingency contracts regarding legislation or executive action.

As Introduced → As Passed the upper · 9 edits

MAJOR

The bill was updated from its original draft to reflect the final version passed by the Senate, incorporating significant formatting corrections, clarifying the fiscal year dates, and adding detailed performance measures and operational mandates. The changes ensure the appropriation aligns with the 2026-2027 fiscal year and include strict rules on how funds can be used for salaries, vacancies, and specific programs like crisis stabilization and community services.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains the appropriation of funds for the Department of Mental Health, but the applicability of the funds is now more strictly defined through new performance metrics and specific restrictions on how 'Vacancy Funding' and 'Personal Services' can be utilized.

FISCAL

The total appropriation amount was adjusted and clarified to $253,879,288.00 from the General Fund and $450,845,046.00 from Special Funds, with specific line items added for Alzheimer's services, crisis centers, and law enforcement training.

REQUIREMENT

New sections were added to mandate specific performance measures, such as increasing access to crisis services by 8,500 calls and serving 2,150 individuals through intensive case management teams.

Strict rules were added to prevent the use of 'Vacancy Funding' for promotions or salary increases of current employees, ensuring funds are only used to fill authorized unfilled positions.

New provisions authorize the Department of Mental Health to purchase land, construct group homes, and repair existing facilities, including employee housing, using appropriated funds.

The bill now explicitly requires the Department of Mental Health to fund ten Assertive Community Treatment (PACT) teams and provide supportive employment for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

A new provision allows the department to escalate headcounts for operational needs related to Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds, subject to approval by the Department of Finance and Administration and the State Personnel Board.

New restrictions prohibit using appropriated funds to pay utilities for state-furnished housing for employees, requiring meters to be installed where actual costs cannot be determined.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the act was updated to July 1, 2026, and the repeal date was set to June 30, 2026, aligning with the new fiscal year structure.

TECHNICAL

Significant formatting errors in the original text were corrected, including line breaks, spacing, and the removal of placeholder text to make the bill readable and legally clear.

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 9, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by Governor

executive

Mar 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Conference Report Adopted

upper

Mar 30, 2026

Committee

Recommitted For Further Conf

upper

Mar 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

Conference Report Filed

lower

Mar 29, 2026

Committee

Recommitted For Further Conf

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

upper

Feb 17, 2026

Committee

Referred To Appropriations

upper

1 primary · 6 co-sponsors