HB1751 is the fiscal year 2026 appropriation bill for the Mississippi State Board of Psychology. It authorizes $162,606 in special funds for the board’s operating expenses for the period beginning July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2026, and it authorizes one permanent position and no time-limited positions. The bill is a standard appropriations measure, but it also includes detailed budget controls governing personal services, vacancies, salary actions, transfers, escalations, recordkeeping, and compliance with state fiscal procedures.
The bill also directs $26,000 of the appropriation to administrative support for the Mississippi Autism Board under existing law. In addition, it requires the agency to maintain accounting and personnel records in the same level of detail as the prior fiscal year, and it sets expectations for the agency’s FY 2027 budget request format. The act takes effect July 1, 2025.
Impact
HB1751 primarily affects state budgeting and administrative operations rather than creating new regulatory authority. It appropriates special funds to the Mississippi State Board of Psychology, sets headcount limits, and imposes restrictions on how personnel funds may be used, including limits on using vacancy funds for salary increases and requirements for approval before position escalations. It also reinforces existing procurement preferences for the Mississippi Industries for the Blind and requires compliance with state spending limits and IRS contractor reporting rules. The bill additionally earmarks a portion of the funds for administrative support of the Mississippi Autism Board.
Sentiment
The available voting history shows strong bipartisan support and no recorded opposition: the Senate passed the bill as amended 51-0, and the House concurred in the Senate amendment 120-0. There are no committee transcripts provided, but the unanimous votes suggest the measure was viewed as routine and noncontroversial. The bill appears to have been treated as a standard agency appropriation with agreed-upon fiscal controls.
Contention
No notable substantive contention is reflected in the provided record. The only potentially sensitive issues are the bill’s detailed restrictions on agency personnel spending, salary adjustments, and position escalations, which limit administrative flexibility and require approval from the Department of Finance and Administration. However, the unanimous votes indicate those provisions did not generate visible opposition in the chambers. The earmark for the Mississippi Autism Board is another notable feature, but there is no evidence in the record that it was disputed.