Appropriation; Fair and Coliseum Commission - Livestock shows., the official text

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2026 Regular Session

To: Appropriations

By: Senator(s) Hopson, DeBar, DeLano, Barnett, McLendon,
Sparks, Suber

Senate Bill 3092

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCE FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFRAYING THE EXPENSES OF THE DIXIE
NATIONAL LIVESTOCK SHOW; A ROUNDUP FOR JUNIOR EXHIBITORS OF LIVESTOCK AND
GOATS; SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDS FOR LIVESTOCK PREMIUMS; COUNTY LIVESTOCK SHOWS IN
OFFERING AND PAYING PRIZES OR AWARDS TO COMPETITORS IN APPROVED COUNTY
LIVESTOCK SHOWS; THE FIVE DISTRICT LIVESTOCK SHOWS; THE FIVE STATE DAIRY SHOWS;
THE MISSISSIPPI HIGH SCHOOL RODEO; AND TO PROVIDE HOW SAID MONEY SHALL BE PAID
OUT OF THE STATE TREASURY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE
LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1.  The following sum, or so much thereof
as may be necessary, is appropriated out of any money in the State Treasury to
the credit of the State Department of Agriculture and Commerce's special fund
account to the State Department of Agriculture and Commerce for the purposes of
defraying the costs of prizes, premiums, judges and other actual and necessary
costs of putting on the Dixie National Livestock Show at the State Fairgrounds
in Jackson, Mississippi, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026,
and ending June 30, 2027 $     1,200,000.00.

SECTION 2.  The
following sums, or so much thereof as may be necessary, are appropriated out of
any money in the State General Fund, not otherwise appropriated, to the State
Department of Agriculture and Commerce as follows:

(a)  For the support of annual roundup shows for junior
exhibitors of junior steers, junior breeding cattle, beef cattle, dairy cattle,
hogs, sheep and goats, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026,
and ending June 30, 2027........... $     64,890.00.

(b)  To supplement the funds paid by the State Department
of Agriculture and Commerce for livestock premiums at the State Fair, all livestock
premiums to be paid on the American system of judging (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th,
etc.) on all classes entered in the senior division for the fiscal year
beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027 $
22,000.00.

(c)  For the county livestock shows in offering and
paying prizes or awards to competitors in the approved county livestock shows
of Mississippi, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026 and ending June 30,
2027....................................... $     30,000.00.

Provided, however, that of
the amount herein appropriated in paragraph (c) of this section, not more than
Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) shall be expended or used in any one (1)
county of the state during each fiscal year.  Provided, further, that none of
the monies herein appropriated in paragraph (c) of this section shall be used
in offering or paying prizes or awards for any livestock show that is not held
where there are adequate barns, pens, and other facilities available for such a
show.

Provided, further, in
paragraph (c) of this section that the management of such shows shall be in the
hands of a county livestock association, and such association shall guarantee a
minimum amount of One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00) to be used in
the paying of prizes, premiums, or awards, and after said county show has been
held and premiums paid, twenty-five percent (25%) of the amount, not exceeding
Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), shall be paid upon requisition to the State
Department of Agriculture and Commerce.

Provided, further, in
paragraph (c) of this section that in any county which has two (2) shows with
proper facilities, and a contiguous county has no such fair and desires to
participate in a fair to be held in an adjoining county, each of the two (2)
fairs in one (1) county may receive an equal proportion of the funds hereby
appropriated, provided, both shows shall not receive an aggregate sum of more
than Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00).

(d)  For the purpose of offering awards and prizes to
competitors in the five (5) district livestock shows, for the fiscal year
beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027................

............................................... $
65,000.00.

(e)  For the purpose of offering awards and prizes to
competitors in the five (5) state dairy shows as provided in Section 69-5-101
et seq., Mississippi Code of 1972, for the fiscal year beginning
July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027..........................

............................................... $
8,500.00.

Provided, further, that no
part of the money herein appropriated under the provisions of paragraphs (d)
and (e) of this section shall be used for any other purpose than to pay premium
awards at said shows and state shows and expositions receiving legislative
appropriation shall not conflict in dates in order that livestock exhibitors
may make the circuit of shows.  Provided, further, that none of the above-mentioned
funds shall be paid to any district shows unless shows are held prior to
roundup.

Not less than seventy-five
percent (75%) of the funds herein appropriated under the provisions of
paragraphs (d) and (e) of this section shall be used in awarding prizes or
premiums to 4-H Club members and Smith-Hughes School members and other boys and
girls having entries in said shows.

All funds herein
appropriated under the provisions of paragraphs (d) and (e) of this section for
the five (5) district livestock shows and the five (5) fall state dairy shows
shall be distributed in such manner that the livestock exhibitors will each
draw equal premium awards for comparable grades and placings at each of the
said five (5) district spring shows and the five (5) fall state shows.  The
management of each district spring show and each state fall show shall submit
to the State Department of Agriculture and Commerce, within fifteen (15) days
after the close of each said show, a full report on the number of exhibitors at
each said show, with the grades and placings of the different classes of
livestock exhibited.

The State Commissioner of
Agriculture and Commerce, together with a committee of three (3) to be named by
the President of the Mississippi Livestock Council from that organization,
shall summarize and prepare a unified list of awards for like classes in all
spring district livestock shows and fall state dairy shows receiving state
premium money, as authorized in paragraphs (d) and (e) of this section.  The
State Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce shall approve and present a
requisition to the State Fiscal Officer for the payment of the amount of funds
in paragraphs (d) and (e) of this section due each show and said State Fiscal
Officer shall issue his warrant thereon, and it shall be paid by the State
Treasurer.

Provided, however, as a
condition of expenditure of the funds appropriated in paragraphs (d) and (e) of
this section, that the board of directors of any district livestock show may,
in its discretion, choose to hold its show in the fall instead of the spring.
If district shows are held in both spring and fall, then all funds herein
appropriated for the five (5) district livestock shows shall be distributed in
such a manner that the spring livestock exhibitors will each draw equal premium
awards for comparable grades and placings at each district spring show, and the
fall livestock exhibitors will each draw equal premium awards for comparable
grades and placings at each district fall show.

(f)  For promotion and expenses of the winners of the
Mississippi High School Rodeo for attending the national finals, for the fiscal
year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027.... $
14,150.00.

(g)  For promotion and expenses of the winners of the
Mississippi Junior High School Rodeo for attending the national finals, for the
fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending
June 30, 2027  $     12,000.00.

(h)  For the support of the Southern Cutting Futurity
Championship, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending
June 30, 2027................................... $     50,000.00.

SECTION 3.  Of the funds in Section 2 of this act,
any funds that are remaining at the end of the fiscal year may be transferred
between the different show awards and prize monies, with the exception that no
county show in Section 2(c) of this act shall receive more than One Thousand
Dollars ($1,000.00).

SECTION 4.  It is the intention of the Legislature
that whenever two (2) or more bids are received by this agency for the purchase
of commodities or equipment, and whenever all things stated in such received
bids are equal with respect to price, quality and service, the Mississippi
Industries for the Blind shall be given preference.  A similar preference shall
be given to the Mississippi Industries for the Blind whenever purchases are
made without competitive bids.

SECTION 5. The Mississippi Department of
Agriculture and Commerce is authorized to accept and expend any grant,
donation, or contribution from any individual, public, or private organization,
or government entity for purposes of defraying the operational costs of the
department.  Such grants, donations, or contributions shall be received and
expended under the rules and regulations of the Department of Finance and
Administration in a manner consistent with the escalation of federal funds not
to exceed One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00).

The Commissioner of Agriculture shall notify, in writing,
the Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the
Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, the Chairman of the House
Appropriations A Committee, and the Legislative Budget Office of any
escalation.  The written notification shall include the justification for the
escalation of funds, the amount, and how the funds will be used.  This written
notification shall be sent on or before the fifteenth day of the month prior to
the effective date of the escalation.

SECTION 6.  The money
herein appropriated shall be paid by the State Treasurer out of any money in
the State Treasury to the credit of the proper fund or funds as set forth in
this act, upon warrants issued by the State Fiscal Officer; and the State
Fiscal Officer shall issue his warrants upon requisitions signed by the proper
person, officer or officers in the manner provided by law.

SECTION 7.  This act
shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2026.