Rep. Scott Bounds

Maddy summaryHB 1775 authorizes the City of Philadelphia, Mississippi (not Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) to make a one-time $10,000 contribution from its general fund during 2026 to Philadelphia Transit, a nonprofit providing transportation services. This nonprofit serves senior citizens, disabled individuals, low-income families, and the general public in east central Mississippi. The bill directly affects Philadelphia Transit’s funding and the communities it supports, with the contribution limited to a single payment not exceeding $10,000. The legislation is procedural, requiring no new policy changes beyond authorizing this specific financial contribution.

Maddy summaryHB 1941 authorizes Mississippi to issue up to $1 million in state general obligation bonds to fund the Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund. The bond proceeds must be deposited into this trust fund, which supports outdoor conservation programs and activities. The bill limits total bond issuance to $1 million and prohibits new bonds after July 1, 2030. It also revises existing rules to allow the fund to use more money for administrative expenses related to its conservation work.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $3,692,008 from general funds and $257,168,829 from special funds (including $3,050,000 from gasoline taxes) for Mississippi's Department of Marine Resources during fiscal year 2027. It directly affects the department's staffing and budgeting, requiring all funds to be used strictly for personnel costs like salaries and fringe benefits, with no transfers to other spending categories. The bill prohibits using vacancy funding for employee raises or promotions and mandates strict adherence to approved staffing levels (108 permanent and 65 time-limited positions). It also requires the department to maintain detailed records for all expenditures and comply with state personnel compensation rules.

Maddy summaryHB 1902 appropriates $572,914 from general funds and $44,328,969 from special funds to cover the State Soil and Water Conservation Commission's administrative expenses and operations for fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). It strictly limits "Personal Services" spending (salaries, wages, and benefits) to $1,076,083, including $90,784 designated for filling authorized vacancies. The bill requires the Commission to adhere to Mississippi’s Variable Compensation Plan, prohibits using general funds to replace other funding sources, and mandates strict budget adherence for personnel costs. This funding supports the Commission’s ongoing work under Mississippi Code § 69-27-1 et seq., directly affecting its staff and operational budget.

Maddy summaryHB 1900 appropriates $4,938,517 from the State General Fund and $464,494 from special source funds to cover the Mississippi Public Service Commission’s (PSC) operating expenses for fiscal year 2027 (July 2026-June 2027). The bill specifically allocates $4,372,677 for "Personal Services" (salaries, wages, and fringe benefits) to support 48 permanent and 6 time-limited staff positions, with strict rules preventing use of these funds for promotions or salary increases beyond budgeted amounts. It requires the PSC to comply with Mississippi’s Variable Compensation Plan and mandates the State Personnel Board to monitor spending to ensure it does not exceed the allocated budget or require new funds for FY 2028 without legislative approval. This is a routine funding bill with no policy changes, solely directing how existing budget resources will be used for PSC personnel costs.

Maddy summaryHB 1891 appropriates $21.38 million from general funds and $252.06 million from special funds to support Mississippi's Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for fiscal year 2027. It directly affects DEQ employees and operations by setting strict annual limits on salary and staffing costs, including a cap of 210 permanent and 170 time-limited staff positions. The bill requires the DEQ to maintain strict budget compliance, prohibiting spending that exceeds allocated "Personal Services" funds (covering salaries, wages, and benefits) without approval, and mandates that vacancy funding must only fill unfilled positions - not increase current employees' pay.

Maddy summaryHB 1904 allocates $21 million from general state funds and $86 million from special funds (including $5.75 million from gas tax revenue) to support Mississippi's Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks for fiscal year 2027. The bill specifically directs $125,335 from the Education Enhancement Fund for Project WILD, an environmental education program. It imposes strict limits on spending for "Personal Services" (salaries, wages, and benefits), capping total funds at $44.68 million and requiring the department to stay within authorized headcount levels (515 permanent and 51 temporary positions). The department must report Wildlife Heritage Fund spending to the legislature by September 1 each year.

Maddy summaryHB 1889 provides $13.3 million from general funds and $30.8 million from special funds to cover the Department of Archives and History's operating expenses for fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). The bill allocates funds specifically for personnel costs, including salaries and benefits for up to 161 permanent and 10 time-limited employee positions. It includes strict rules requiring the department to stay within the allocated budget for "Personal Services" and prohibiting the use of these funds for promotions or salary increases beyond approved headcounts. This is a routine funding measure for an existing state agency's operations, not a policy change.

Maddy summaryHB 1899 appropriates $31,629,107 from special funds to cover the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District's operational expenses for fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). The bill specifically allocates funds for 99 permanent staff positions, dredging operations at Ross Barnett Reservoir ($1,427,719), construction of a new office building ($4 million), campground infrastructure renovations ($4.233 million), and repairs at Northshore Parkway ($4 million). It requires the district to maintain detailed financial records comparable to 2026 and mandates waivers of certain fees for events like the ESPN Bass Masters Classic if won by local entities. The funding must be spent in compliance with existing Mississippi Code, with no use of general funds to replace withdrawn special funds.

Maddy summaryHB 1901 allocates $2,476,315 in general state funds and $80,000 from the Project Atlas Fund to cover the Public Utilities Staff agency’s expenses for fiscal year 2027 (July 2026-June 2027). The funds are strictly restricted to "Personal Services" (salaries, wages, and fringe benefits) for 23 authorized staff positions, with no spending allowed for promotions or salary increases without new funding approval. The bill requires strict adherence to budget limits, prohibiting annualized spending that exceeds allocated funds and mandating that any new headcount or salary changes must be approved with additional resources. This funding supports the agency’s ongoing operations and the specific "Atlas Project" initiative, with all spending subject to oversight by the State Personnel Board.