Bill
HB 1748
Would fund the Mississippi Board of Nursing for FY2026 with $5,307,890 in special funds and 25 full-time positions, plus ONW and PDMP support, but died in conference.
Status and procedural history
- Bill number: HB 1748
- Title (as amended): An Act making an appropriation from special funds in the State Treasury for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the Mississippi Board of Nursing for the Fiscal Year 2026.
- Introduced: January 7, 2025. Sponsors: Rep. M. Brown (House) and Sen. Dees (Senate). Companion: SB 303.
- Major actions: Passed the originating chamber, transmitted to the Senate (Feb 21, 2025), amended in committee and on the floor, conferees named, but the measure ultimately DIED IN CONFERENCE (March 29, 2025).
Note on document content
- The submission package included extraneous/other-state language (e.g., an Arkansas “Uniform Electronic Legal Materials Act” text and an Illinois provision on 5‑day public review of bills). The operative subject for this HB 1748 is the Mississippi FY2026 appropriation for the Mississippi Board of Nursing; the other texts are unrelated inserts.
Purpose and intent
- To appropriate special‑fund revenue to support operations of the Mississippi Board of Nursing for Fiscal Year 2026 and to fund related programs (notably the Office of Nursing Workforce), together with budgetary controls and administrative conditions.
Key provisions and dollar amounts
- Total appropriation: $5,307,890 (special funds) for the Mississippi Board of Nursing for FY2026.
- Authorized headcount: 25 permanent positions (0 time‑limited positions).
- Office of Nursing Workforce (ONW): $1,560,000 earmarked to support ONW activities (education/practice infrastructure).
- Mississippi Board of Pharmacy: up to $105,000 may be allocated to defray expenses of the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP).
- Funding conditioned on a signed Memorandum of Understanding with the Mississippi Department of Health to assist implementation/monitoring related to the Medical Cannabis Act.
- Agency obligations and controls:
- Agencies must maintain accounting and personnel records at FY2025 detail levels and submit FY2027 budget requests in comparable format.
- Personal‑services rules: limitations to avoid FY2027 personal‑services exceeding FY2026 unless legislature adds positions; restrictions on using vacancy funds for salary increases; salary actions subject to Department of Finance & Administration (DoF&A) and State Personnel Board procedures; prohibition on using these funds to replace federal or other special funds.
- Procurement preference: Mississippi Industries for the Blind given preference when bids are equal or purchases are made without competitive bids.
- Routine fiscal provisions: compliance with state law on obligations, warrants issued by State Fiscal Officer, etc.
- Effective date language in the text references July 1, 2025 (intended for FY2026).
Who would be affected
- Primary: Mississippi Board of Nursing (operations and staffing), Office of Nursing Workforce, Mississippi Board of Pharmacy (PDMP funding), Mississippi Department of Health (via MOU), program beneficiaries (nursing education/workforce initiatives), state finance and personnel agencies, and vendors eligible under procurement preferences.
Impact and significance
- If enacted, the bill would have funded board operations and a targeted workforce program, supported PDMP activities, and imposed administrative controls to limit salary growth and ensure financial oversight. Because the bill died in conference, these appropriations and directives did not become law for FY2026.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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