Senate Bill 3055 is an annual appropriations measure for the Mississippi Department of Tourism for fiscal year 2026. It provides funding authority from the state general fund and any applicable special funds to cover the department’s operating expenses, but the bill as drafted appropriates $0.00 and authorizes no permanent or time-limited positions. The measure is structured as a standard appropriations bill with detailed fiscal controls, personnel limitations, reporting requirements, and spending restrictions.
The bill also sets out administrative conditions governing how the department may use any appropriated funds. It requires the agency to maintain detailed accounting and personnel records, follow state personnel and budget procedures, avoid using general funds to replace withdrawn federal or special funds, comply with IRS contractor-reporting rules, and give preference to the Mississippi Industries for the Blind when purchasing commodities or equipment under specified bid conditions. The act is contingent on passage of Senate Bill 2573, which would create the Mississippi Department of Tourism, and it is tied to the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025.
Impact
SB3055 would establish the spending authority and operating framework for the newly created Mississippi Department of Tourism, but it does not itself provide a positive appropriation amount in the text provided. Its main legal effect is to authorize the department’s budget structure, impose personnel and procurement restrictions, and incorporate existing state fiscal controls into the department’s operations. It also links the department’s existence and funding to separate enabling legislation, meaning the appropriation only takes effect if SB2573 passes.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have moved with strong legislative support. It passed the Senate unanimously, 51-0, and later passed the House 113-4 as amended. That voting pattern suggests broad agreement on the concept of creating and funding a tourism department, even though the final House vote shows some limited opposition or concern.
Contention
No committee transcript was provided, so specific debate points are not available. The likely areas of concern reflected in the bill text are fiscal restraint, personnel growth, and control over salary actions and fund transfers. The House’s small number of negative votes may indicate disagreement with the department’s creation, the appropriations structure, or the contingent nature of the measure, but the record provided does not identify the dissenting arguments or sponsors of opposition.