Bill
HB 1743
Funds the State Fire Academy for FY2026 with $6,854,812 and 25 time-limited positions, plus $1,825,000 reappropriated for capital needs, under strict controls.
Status: Died in Conference (filed Jan 6, 2025)
Note on source document
- The provided bill document contains text from multiple unrelated measures (versions of HB 1743 from different states covering Arkansas feed law changes and an Illinois criminal procedure amendment). During consideration, a committee amendment struck all prior text and replaced it with an appropriation for the State Fire Academy (a Mississippi fiscal-appropriations format). This summary focuses on the final appropriation language as substituted by the committee amendment and on the bill’s procedural history as recorded.
Purpose and intent
- To appropriate state General Fund monies to the State Fire Academy for Fiscal Year 2026 and to reauthorize certain capital expense funds carried forward for specified capital projects.
Key provisions and changes
- General Fund appropriation: $6,854,812 for the State Fire Academy for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2026.
- Authorized headcount: 0 permanent positions and 25 time‑limited positions.
- Reappropriation from Capital Expense Fund: $1,825,000 (reauthorizing unexpended Capital Expense Funds previously authorized in HB 1798, 2024), allocated as:
- $75,000 — federal grant match to purchase vehicles
- $1,750,000 — replacement of heat building components
- Expenditure limited to the unexpended balance remaining as of June 30, 2025 and limited to original authorized purposes.
- Personnel and budget controls:
- Agency must ensure personal services (payroll) for FY2027 do not exceed FY2026 appropriations unless Legislature adds programs/positions.
- Restrictions on using vacancy funds, promotions, salary adjustments, and escalations absent Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) approval.
- State Personnel Board to publish projected annualized payroll costs; salary actions limited if projected costs exceed appropriations.
- Prohibits using these general funds to replace federal or other special funds previously funding salaries.
- Reporting, performance, and recordkeeping:
- Performance targets specified for FY2026: 8,100 students trained at an average cost of $1,151.60 per student.
- Agency must maintain accounting and personnel records comparable in format/detail to FY2025 and provide budget request information to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee.
- Procurement and preference language:
- Preference given to Mississippi Industries for the Blind when competitive bids are equal, and when purchases are made without competitive bids.
- Compliance and limitations:
- Funds must be spent in compliance with Mississippi law (e.g., Section 27‑104‑25) and IRS Publication 15‑A reporting requirements for contract employees.
- Effective date: Took effect July 1, 2025 (language contains a likely typographical repeal date that appears inconsistent with the fiscal year language).
Who is affected
- Primary: State Fire Academy (operations, training capacity, capital projects).
- State-level entities: State Personnel Board, Department of Finance and Administration, Joint Legislative Budget Committee, State Treasurer/State Fiscal Officer.
- Vendors and contractors: suppliers for capital projects and vehicle purchases; Mississippi Industries for the Blind receives procurement preference.
- Employees: time‑limited positions authorized; strict limitations on salary adjustments and use of funds for personnel.
Procedural timeline and disposition
- Introduced Jan 6, 2025. Underwent multiple committee actions, amendments, and cross‑chamber movement (record shows readings, committee referrals, amendments, passage in chambers, enrollment).
- Committee Amendment replaced earlier unrelated text with the State Fire Academy appropriation language.
- Final recorded disposition: Died In Conference (March 29, 2025). The legislative history in the document includes conflicting entries (e.g., entries indicating passage and enrollment), but the bill ultimately did not survive conference.
Implication
- If enacted as amended, the bill would have funded the State Fire Academy’s FY2026 operations, authorized temporary staff, and reauthorized specific capital project funds subject to strict personnel and expenditure controls and reporting requirements. Because it died in conference, none of these appropriations took effect.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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