Mississippi Senate Bill SB2003

Mississippi 2025 1st Special Session

• Introduced: 5/28/25
• Refer: 5/28/25
• Engrossed: 5/28/25
• Enrolled: 5/30/25
• Passed: 6/4/25

Caption

Appropriation; IHL - Alcorn State - Agricultural programs.

Summary

SB2003 is an appropriations bill that funds Alcorn State University’s Agricultural Research, Extension, and Land-Grant Programs for fiscal year 2026. It provides $7,887,984 from the State General Fund and authorizes an additional $335,000 in special source funds, including money from the Education Enhancement Fund. The bill is aimed at supporting the university’s agricultural mission and related operations for the year beginning July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2026. The bill also directs specific amounts to designated purposes within the program. Of the special source funds, $170,000 is allocated to agency operations and $165,000 to the Poultry Sciences Academic Research Center. In addition, $300,000 from general funds is earmarked for the Poultry Sciences Academic Research Center, and $715,000 is provided for agricultural research and extension activities, including poultry science, animal science, and environmental science programs. The act includes standard appropriations language prohibiting the use of general funds to replace withdrawn federal or other special funds for salaries, and it takes effect July 1, 2025.

Impact

SB2003 does not create a new regulatory program or amend substantive law; instead, it authorizes state spending for Alcorn State University’s agricultural research and extension functions. Its practical effect is to set the funding level and spending conditions for the university’s land-grant-related programs for FY 2026, while also referencing existing statutes governing the Education Enhancement Fund, state purchasing preferences for Mississippi Industries for the Blind, and limits on agency spending beyond appropriations. The bill affects Alcorn State University, its agricultural research and extension operations, and the state treasury and fiscal officers responsible for disbursing the funds.

Sentiment

The available voting history suggests the bill was generally supported, passing the Senate 38-7. No committee transcript is available, so there is no recorded debate to indicate detailed concerns or endorsements. The vote margin indicates broad approval, though not unanimous, consistent with a routine but important appropriations measure.

Contention

The main potential points of contention are fiscal rather than policy-based. The bill’s allocation of state general funds and special source funds to Alcorn State University may have drawn opposition from members concerned about spending levels, priorities, or the use of public funds for specific centers and programs such as poultry sciences. The seven no votes suggest some disagreement, but without committee discussion or floor debate, the specific objections are not documented in the provided materials. The bill also includes standard restrictions on replacing federal funds with general funds and a preference for Mississippi Industries for the Blind in certain purchases, but these provisions appear routine rather than controversial.