Appropriation; Military Department., the official text

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2026 Regular Session

To: Appropriations

By: Senator(s) Hopson, Williams, DeLano, Seymour, Simmons
(13th), Tate

Senate Bill 3096

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFRAYING
THE EXPENSES OF THE MISSISSIPPI NATIONAL GUARD 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 hereby appropriated out of any money in the State
General Fund not otherwise appropriated, for the purpose of defraying the
general expenses of the operation of the Mississippi National Guard for the
fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending
June 30, 2027.... $    13,969,082.00.

SECTION 2.  The following sum, or so much thereof
as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to the Mississippi National Guard,
out of any money in the State Treasury to the credit of the Camp Shelby Timber
Fund No. 3700, as created by Chapter 187, Laws of 1954, as amended; the Army
National Guard Programs Fund No. 3701; the Camp Shelby Base Operations Fund No.
3705; and the Air National Guard Programs Fund No. 3709, for the purpose of
carrying out the provisions of applicable statutes and federal/state agreements
for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending
June 30, 2027........ $   248,904,521.00.

SECTION 3.  Of the funds appropriated under the
provisions of this act, the following positions are authorized:

AUTHORIZED HEADCOUNT:

Permanent:          913

Time-Limited:         0

Any transfers or escalations
shall be made in accordance with the terms, conditions, and procedures
established by law.

No general funds authorized
to be expended herein shall be used to replace federal funds and/or other
special funds which are being used for salaries authorized under the provisions
of this act and which are withdrawn and no longer available.

SECTION 4.  Of the
funds appropriated under the provisions of Section 2 of this act, funds in the
amount of Five Million Eight Hundred Thousand Dollars ($5,800,000.00) shall be
derived from the Education Enhancement Fund deposited pursuant to Sections 27-65-75
and 27-67-31, Mississippi Code of 1972, for the purpose of defraying the
expenses of the State Educational Assistance Program.

SECTION 5.  It is the
intention of the Legislature that the agency's budget request for Fiscal Year
2028 shall be submitted to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee in a format
and level of detail comparable to the format and level of detail provided
during the Fiscal Year 2027 budget request process.

SECTION 6.  All funds
authorized to be expended herein shall be expended and otherwise accounted for
in accordance with the provisions of Section 27-104-1 et seq., Mississippi Code
of 1972.  If not needed for other purposes, the Adjutant General is hereby
expressly authorized to invest any part of or all monies herein appropriated
out of the Camp Shelby Timber Fund at the highest rate of interest obtainable
and credit interest accruing on such investments to the respective fund.  Such
monies may be invested in any short-term bonds, notes or other direct
obligations of the United States of America or the State of Mississippi or any
county or municipality of this state, which said county or municipal bonds have
been approved by a reputable bonds attorney or have been validated by a decree
of the court, and in any event the said bonds, notes or obligations in which
such funds are invested shall mature or be redeemable prior to the time the
funds so invested will be needed for the refund or refunds herein provided for.

SECTION 7.  Of the
funds appropriated in Section 1 of this act, Two Million Three Hundred Thirty-nine
Thousand Six Hundred Fourteen Dollars ($2,339,614.00) shall be provided for the
support of the Youth Challenge Program at Camp Shelby.

SECTION 8.  Of the
funds provided under the provisions of this act, Six Hundred Sixty-eight
Thousand Three Hundred Fifty-six Dollars ($668,356.00) is provided for the
Armed Forces Military Museum located at Camp Shelby.

SECTION 9.  Of the funds appropriated to be
expended in this act, no General Funds shall be used to reimburse members and
personnel of the Mississippi National Guard for the costs associated with
attending authorized training.  Any expenditure of funds for the purpose of
compensation of such personnel and members for per diems and travel expenses
shall be expended from any federal funds which are made available to the
Mississippi National Guard for ancillary purposes.

SECTION 10.  Of the
funds provided under the provisions of this act, an amount not to exceed
Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000.00) is provided for the Sonny
Montgomery Center for America's Veterans at Mississippi State University.

SECTION 11.  Of the
funds provided in Sections 1 and 2 of this act, Ten Thousand Dollars
($10,000.00) is provided for the purchase of uniforms for the Youth Challenge
Program staff.

SECTION 12.  The
Adjutant General of Mississippi is hereby authorized to transfer any part of
appropriated funds, including general funds or capital expense funds, to
special funds within the Mississippi Military Department, to facilitate federal
grant matching requirements.  Prior written notification of transfer shall be
provided to the Legislative Budget Office and the Department of Finance and
Administration.  The Military Department shall provide an annual report of all
transfers to the Chairmen of the Appropriations Committees and the Legislative
Budget Office by October 1 each year, summarizing the status of projects funded
by transfers to special funds over the prior fiscal years.

SECTION 13.  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 14.  It is
the intention of the Legislature that the funds herein appropriated shall be
expended in compliance with Section 27-104-25, Mississippi Code of 1972, that
no state agency shall incur obligations or indebtedness in excess of its
appropriation and that the responsible officers, either personally or upon
their official bonds, shall be held responsible for actions contrary to this
provision.

SECTION 15.  Of the
funds appropriated in Section 1, Four Million Four Hundred Thousand Dollars
($4,400,00.00) is provided for the Tricare Premium Reimbursement Program as
created in SB 2018, 2026 Regular Session. If these funds are not fully
expended, they shall lapse back to the General Fund and will not be subject to
transfer to other programs. In accordance with SB 2018, a report on the
effectiveness of the program, the number of participants, and the impact on
medical readiness shall be provided to the Lieutenant Governor's Office, the
Speaker's Office, the Chairmen of Appropriations in the House and Senate, and
the Legislative Budget Office on December 1, 2026.

SECTION 16.  Of the
funds appropriated under the provisions of Section 2, Six Hundred Fifty
Thousand Dollars ($650,000.00), or so much thereof, shall be derived out of any
money in the State Treasury to the credit of the Capital Expense Fund, as
created in Section 27-103-303, Mississippi Code of 1972, and allocated in a
manner as determined by the State Treasurer. These funds are provided for
the purchase of land within and adjacent to the Camp Shelby training area for
the purpose of expanding the training area and security of the Camp Shelby
buffer zone. If these funds are not fully expended, they shall lapse back
to the Capital Expense Fund and will not be subject to transfer to other
programs.

SECTION 17. The
following sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is reappropriated out of
any money in the Capital Expense Fund not otherwise appropriated, for the
Military Department for the purpose of reauthorizing the expenditure of Capital
Expense Funds for renovations, repairs, general operating upgrades and
additions at the Youth Challenge Academies facilities, as authorized in Senate
Bill No. 2034, 2025 First Extraordinary Session, for the fiscal year beginning
July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027........ $
1,912,701.00.

Notwithstanding the amount reappropriated under the
provisions of this section, in no event shall the amount expended exceed the
unexpended balances as of June 30, 2026. In addition, this
reappropriation shall not change the purpose for which the funds were
originally authorized.

SECTION 18.  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 19.  This act
shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2026.