AN ACT APPROVING THE EXPENDITURE OF SPECIAL FUNDS FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFRAYING THE EXPENSES OF THE YELLOW CREEK STATE INLAND PORT AUTHORITY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2027.
Summary
House Bill 1905 is an annual appropriations measure for the Yellow Creek State Inland Port Authority for Fiscal Year 2027. It authorizes the expenditure of $27,094,906 in special funds available to the Authority for the period beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027. The bill also authorizes 17 permanent positions and no time-limited positions, and it specifies that the Authority must manage transfers and escalations according to existing law.
The bill directs that $15 million of the appropriation be used for capital projects and $50,000 for overtime, callback, or standby pay. It also requires the Authority to maintain detailed accounting and personnel records, to submit its next budget request in a comparable format, and to follow state procurement preferences for the Mississippi Industries for the Blind when bids are equal or when purchases are made without competitive bidding. The act takes effect July 1, 2026.
Impact
HB1905 does not create a new program or alter the general structure of state law; instead, it provides spending authority for a specific state agency using special funds already received or otherwise available to the Yellow Creek State Inland Port Authority. It reinforces existing fiscal controls by prohibiting the use of general funds to replace withdrawn federal or special funds, requiring compliance with Mississippi’s budget and indebtedness limits, and mandating proper disbursement procedures. The bill affects the Authority directly, along with its employees, procurement practices, and capital spending plans, while also preserving the statutory preference for the Mississippi Industries for the Blind in certain purchases.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been noncontroversial and broadly supported. It passed the House unanimously, 121-0, and the Senate unanimously, 51-0, indicating strong bipartisan agreement on funding the Authority’s operations and capital needs. No committee transcript concerns were provided, and the voting history suggests little to no opposition.
Contention
There is no recorded substantive contention in the provided materials. The only potentially notable policy points are the size of the appropriation, the allocation of $15 million to capital projects, and the procurement preference for the Mississippi Industries for the Blind, but the unanimous votes suggest these provisions were not disputed in the legislative process. The bill also includes standard fiscal oversight language, which is typical for appropriations measures rather than a source of disagreement.