Healthcare

SB 2026 appropriates $438.2 million from the state General Fund and $30.8 million from special funds for Mississippi's Department of Corrections during fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). The bill allocates specific funding to key areas including $122 million for medical services, $69.5 million for private prison contracts, and $144 million for personnel costs (salaries, benefits, and staffing positions). These funds directly support state correctional facilities like Parchman, South Mississippi Correctional, and community corrections programs, covering operational expenses and staffing for approximately 2,900 positions. As a funding measure, it does not change policy but authorizes financial resources for existing correctional operations.

HB 46 provides additional state funding for multiple agencies during fiscal years 2025 and 2026. It allocates specific amounts to cover existing costs, including $156,842 for the Attorney General's legal expenses related to ongoing cases (like Curtis Flowers v. State of Mississippi), $4.3 million for the Department of Corrections' medical program, $14 million for replacing an offender tracking system, and $27.4 million for the Department of Child Protective Services to cover increased operational costs. The bill directly affects state agencies by providing funds for legal fees, medical services, technology upgrades, and child welfare operations. This is a funding measure, not a new policy, and does not change existing laws or create new programs.