MississippiSB 30672026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Appropriation; Public Safety, Department of.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

12 provisions identified: 9 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

Money to run Public Safety in 2027

The state provides $167,789,465 from the General Fund and $112,997,879 from special funds to run the Department of Public Safety for the year July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. The Mississippi Department of Transportation also provides $5,000,000 for commercial transportation enforcement. The law directs $4,312,602 from these funds to named programs, such as $2,276,404 for officer training standards, $629,543 for the DNA fund, and $99,003 for Crime Stoppers.

DPS staffing limits and pay fixes

For the year starting July 1, 2026, DPS Personal Services spending is capped at $155,597,181, with 1,688 permanent and 66 time‑limited positions. Agencies cannot move Personal Services money to other budget categories. DPS adds three permanent jobs: a Physician Supervisor, a Forensic Laboratory Scientist II, and a Forensic Laboratory Technician. The Commissioner may seek State Personnel Board approval to fix pay inequities (not retroactive) and may buy accumulated comp time if funds are available. DPS may add up to $10,000,000 to its budget under Finance rules with overtime records; after approval, the State Personnel Board updates personnel amounts.

Officer clothing, pilot pay, training

If you are a sworn, nonuniform DPS officer, you can get up to $1,000 each year for clothing, starting July 1, 2026. DPS officers with a commercial pilot license get $900 in extra pay, on top of $100 in existing law, for a total of $1,000. Up to $2,000,000 is available for grants that help officers get extra training and safety gear under state law.

Upgrades for labs and training sites

Starting July 1, 2026, $6,431,377 is reappropriated for DPS projects, including $2,000,000 to cut forensic case backlogs, $3,115,000 to replace the driver license system, and other listed items. Spending cannot exceed the unspent balance as of June 30, 2026 and must keep the original purposes. DPS also gets $278,000 to repair the Law Enforcement Officers’ Training Academy campus, $180,000 to buy three FARO 3D imaging units, and $2,600,000 to fix or replace HVAC at the Biloxi Forensics Lab.

Budget flexibility and savings authority

Starting July 1, 2026, DPS can spend on technology or equipment only when the upgrade saves more than it costs. The Commissioner may move up to $20,000,000 among DPS special‑fund divisions during the year, with prior written notice. These shifts can reallocate money between programs.

Funds for trafficking and school safety

The law provides $250,000 for a Statewide Human Trafficking Coordinator and a data analyst at the Bureau of Investigation to support victim recovery work. It also provides $242,603 for duties and operations under the Mississippi School Safety Act of 2019. Funding begins July 1, 2026.

Narcotics forfeiture site and evidence funds

Beginning July 1, 2026, up to $500,000 may be spent to build and run a forfeiture website; any leftover may buy vehicles, equipment, or other needs. The Bureau of Narcotics may also receive and spend up to $500,000 from the Drug Evidence Disposition Funds for bureau needs.

One-time payments for past vendor bills

Beginning July 1, 2026, DPS may pay $14,339.90 to certain vendors for expenses from the 2023 and 2024 fiscal years.

Stronger reporting and spending guardrails at DPS

DPS sets performance targets for the year starting July 1, 2026 and, in its next budget request, reports how well it met them. DPS must keep accounting and personnel records like the prior year and submit its next budget in a comparable format. By January 15, 2027, DPS must give lawmakers a list of any elected official or other non‑employee flown in Highway Patrol aircraft in the covered year. Funds in this law cannot be used for other agencies’ public relations, and DPS‑funded staff cannot be reassigned to PR work.

Tie-bid preference for Industries for the Blind

When two or more offers are equal in price, quality, and service, buyers must choose Mississippi Industries for the Blind. The same preference applies to purchases without competitive bids when offers are equal. This takes effect July 1, 2026.

No quotas for speeding tickets

DPS cannot issue speeding tickets to meet a quota. Money from this law cannot be used to support any quota‑based ticketing in the year starting July 1, 2026.

Support for Capitol Police and Jackson

DPS may subgrant funds to the Jackson Police Department after it signs an operating agreement with Capitol Police on roles in the Capitol Complex area. The law provides $900,000 one time to the Capitol Police to help pay for detainee housing in that district, starting July 1, 2026. For the Capitol Security Platform project, DPS must get written approvals from Finance, from Archives and History, and from House and Senate committees, and any Landmark permit, before spending money or signing contracts.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Hopson
Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

DeBar
Affiliation unavailable
Rod Hickman
Democratic • Senate
Daniel H. Sparks
Republican • Senate
Turner-Ford
Affiliation unavailable
Brice Wiggins
Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 341 • No: 0

House vote • 3/29/2026

Conference Report Adopted

Yes: 120 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/29/2026

Conference Report Adopted

Yes: 50 • No: 0

House vote • 3/12/2026

Passed As Amended