Labor & Employment

HB 20 appropriates $92.9 million from general funds and $1.578 billion from special funds to the Mississippi Department of Human Services (DHS) for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026), covering operational expenses. It restricts spending to authorized duties under state/federal law and mandates strict limits on "Personal Services" funds (covering salaries, benefits, and vacancy funding totaling $113.9 million), requiring DHS to maintain headcount levels and avoid exceeding budgeted amounts for personnel costs. The bill also directs $1 million from DHS special funds to the Department of Health’s Child Care Licensure Program by July 31, 2025. This funding measure directly affects DHS’s ability to operate its programs, including child care services, by allocating specific resources for personnel and agency expenses.

HB 21 appropriates $7,384,650 (including $7,084,650 from general funds and $300,000 from special funds) to cover the State Fire Academy's expenses for fiscal year 2026. The bill specifically restricts $5.3 million to "Personal Services" (employee salaries, wages, and benefits) for 62 authorized positions, requiring compliance with Mississippi's salary rules and preventing funds from being used for promotions or salary increases beyond the appropriation. It mandates training 8,100 students at an average cost of $1,151.60 per student and requires detailed financial reporting to the legislature. The funding directly affects the State Fire Academy's operations and staff compensation.

SB 2050 renames the "Secretary of State Land Improvement Fund" as the "Land Improvement Fund" and transfers its administration from the Secretary of State to the Department of Finance and Administration. It directs $13 million from the Capital Expense Fund to this fund for improving LeFleur's Bluff State Park, and creates a new "LIFT at the Mississippi Children's Museum Fund" to receive $5 million for museum construction, upgrades, and statewide workforce development training. The bill ensures unspent funds in either account carry over annually without lapsing into the General Fund. These changes affect state park management and the Mississippi Children's Museum in Jackson.