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HB 1742

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2026 Regular Session Introduced by Kevin Avard and 6 co-sponsors

Authorizes FY2026 funding for the Department of Human Services, sets staffing at 1,202 permanent and 353 time-limited positions, and imposes use, transfer, and procurement rules.

Signed by Governor Ayotte 06/19/2026; Chapter 179; eff.08/18/2026
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 1742

Summary — HB 1742 (Appropriation; Department of Human Services)

Status: Died in Conference (record shows conflicting entries; see Procedural Notes)
Introduced: January 6, 2025
Primary sponsor(s): Rep. Wooldridge; Sen. D. Wallace; Rep. Dennis Tipsword Jr.
Subject: Appropriations (Department of Human Services), personnel, transfers

Purpose / Intent

To appropriate state and special funds to the Department of Human Services (DHS) for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2026, establish authorized staffing levels, set conditions on use of funds, and direct certain transfers and administrative requirements tied to DHS operations.

Key provisions and changes

  • Appropriations
    • State General Fund to DHS (FY2026): $78,116,522 (Section formatting in the bill is uneven but this is the stated general fund amount).
    • Special fund appropriation to DHS (funds held in state treasury and special-source funds): $1,572,880,450.
    • Combined funding and line-item detail appears in amendments; totals and line-item breakdowns should be verified against official enrolled bill text.
  • Staffing and personnel
    • Authorized headcount: 1,202 permanent full‑time positions and 353 time‑limited full‑time positions.
    • Multiple provisions restrict use of vacancy funds (must be used to increase headcount, not salary adjustments) and require agency responsibility to ensure FY2027 personal services do not exceed FY2026 levels unless the Legislature approves additions.
    • State Personnel Board responsibilities described for publishing personal‑services appropriation data and projected annualized payroll.
  • Transfers and earmarks
    • $1,000,000 to be transferred from the Child Care Development Fund (or other appropriate special fund) to the Department of Health — Child Care Licensure Program. Recipient must account to DHS for use in compliance with federal/state rules.
  • Administrative and policy directions
    • Funds may not be used for purposes outside DHS’s constitutionally/legally authorized duties.
    • No general funds can replace withdrawn federal or special funds for salaries.
    • Preference language for purchases (Mississippi Industries for the Blind) when bids are equal; similar preference when noncompetitive purchases are made.
    • DHS may invest in technology or equipment upgrades where cost savings or efficiencies result.
    • Prohibits use of funds to pay certain utilities for state‑furnished housing for employees; details provided about meters and exclusions.
    • Requires DHS to maintain accounting and personnel records in the same level of detail as FY2025 and to submit FY2027 budget requests comparable in format/level of detail.
    • Includes performance targets and reporting expectations for FY2026 (support services, investigations, monitoring, etc.).

Who is affected

  • Department of Human Services operations and workforce (staffing levels, hiring rules).
  • Department of Health (recipient of $1,000,000 transfer for Child Care Licensure).
  • Providers, vendors, and contractors dealing with DHS procurement (preference rules).
  • Beneficiaries of DHS programs indirectly through funded operations.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Legislative actions in the provided record are inconsistent: entries show readings, committee referrals, passage, enrollment, and an Act notification (Act 527), but the bill is also marked "Died In Conference" (March 29, 2025).
  • Conferees were appointed; conference activity occurred in mid‑March 2025.
  • Because the provided document mixes multiple unrelated texts (see below), the final legal status and exact enacted amounts/conditions should be confirmed with the official state legislative record or the Secretary of State/legislative services for the relevant state.

Important caveat / document irregularities

The supplied version text appears to conflate multiple distinct measures (including Arkansas seed‑certification amendments and an Illinois voter‑ID/election bill) alongside the DHS appropriation language (which resembles a Mississippi-style appropriation act). This summary isolates and describes the DHS appropriation material only, but readers should verify specifics (final enacted amounts, statutory language, and status) with the official legislative source for HB 1742 in the applicable state.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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