Bill > HB1891

This bill appropriates funds for the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027, allocating over $21 million from the State General Fund and over $252 million from special funds. A significant portion of these funds, totaling over $33 million, is designated for "Personal Services," which includes salaries, wages, and fringe benefits for employees, with specific provisions for "Vacancy Funding" to fill authorized but unfilled positions, and strict guidelines to prevent exceeding the appropriated amount for personal services. The bill also outlines specific allocations for various programs, including transfers from the Pollution Emergency Fund for legal activities, household hazardous waste collection, and dam safety inspections, as well as funds for the Clean Water Grant match, projects related to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, and specific initiatives like Project Poppy and Project Atlas. Furthermore, it establishes performance measures for the DEQ, mandates adherence to purchasing preferences for the Mississippi Industries for the Blind, allows for cash transfers between DEQ's special funds for efficiency, and grants the DEQ authority to escalate headcount for operational needs related to Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds with appropriate approvals. The bill also includes provisions for economic viability assessments of certain permit applications and requires the DEQ to maintain detailed accounting and personnel records and submit budget requests in a comparable format to previous years.

Budget and Finance

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history/HB/HB1891.xml