Senate Bill 3022 is an annual appropriations measure for the Mississippi State Board of Massage Therapy. It provides $199,100 in special funds for the board’s operations for Fiscal Year 2026, covering the period from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. The bill does not create new licensing rules or substantive regulatory changes; instead, it funds the board’s existing administrative and enforcement functions.
The bill also includes standard appropriations language requiring the board to keep complete accounting and personnel records in the same level of detail as Fiscal Year 2025 and to submit its Fiscal Year 2027 budget request in a comparable format. It further directs that, when purchasing commodities or equipment, the agency should give preference to the Mississippi Industries for the Blind when bids are equal or when purchases are made without competitive bidding. The act becomes effective July 1, 2025.
Impact
SB3022 affects state law primarily by authorizing the expenditure of special funds from the State Board of Massage Therapy Fund and setting conditions on how those funds are administered. It maintains funding for the board’s operations and imposes routine fiscal oversight, recordkeeping, and procurement preferences, but it does not amend the underlying massage therapy licensing statutes or expand the board’s regulatory authority.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been noncontroversial and broadly supported. It passed the Senate unanimously, 50-0, and the House unanimously, 119-0, indicating strong bipartisan agreement on funding the board’s operations. The absence of committee transcript discussion also suggests little public dispute or debate around the measure.
Contention
There is no notable substantive contention reflected in the available record. The bill is a routine agency appropriation, and the only potentially relevant policy point is the standard procurement preference for the Mississippi Industries for the Blind, which is a common feature in appropriations bills rather than a disputed issue here. No opposition, amendments, or contested regulatory changes are indicated in the votes or context provided.