Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Andrew Minor from DFA. I'm filling in for Mr. Jimenez today.
• There was a pretty big difference between LFC and DFA, so we decided to work on RLD in a work group.
• Chairman, Representative, DFA submitted Line 17, Mr.
• Chairman, Representative, DFA submitted new, some revised language for that appropriation.
• Again, that was in both the LFC and the executive; DFA had submitted some revised language.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Section six is DFA for the Mississippi Semiquincentennial Commission, America 250 capital expense funds
• Section<00:16:32.160> five<00:16:32.639> is<00:16:33.199> DFA<00:16:34.240> and
• five is DFA and its expenses related<00:16:35.680> to<00:16:35.839> the<00:16:36.079><
• <00:16:41.120> Section<00:16:41.600> six<00:16:41.839> is<00:16:42.160> DFA
• Section six is DFA amount of $6 million.

Keywords: MS House Floor - 18 March, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then moved through routine organizational business, including confirming a quorum, dispensing with the journal reading, and introducing pages and several visiting groups. Recognitions included the Calhoun City High School Wildcats for winning the 2025 Class 1A state championship, the Florence High School girls soccer team for winning the Class 5A state championship, the Mississippi Children’s Museum, a Kosciusko-Attala business delegation, an empowerment group from Oxford, a pediatrician of the day, law enforcement leaders, and other guests. The chamber also adopted House Resolution 63 honoring the House softball team for winning the Battle of the Tombigbee. The main floor action centered on concurrence or conference motions on several bills. The House concurred in HB 1404, HB 1546, HB 1577, HB 1265, HB 895, HB 1923, HB 1937, and HB 1940, with votes ranging from near-unanimous to 99-14 and 108-8; HB 895 was amended by unanimous consent to correct a line reference. Members explained that HB 1404 added knowingly/willfully/unlawfully language, HB 1546 shortened the human-trafficking expungement period from five years to three, HB 1577 adjusted false-claims reporting language, HB 1265 removed a repealer from the Debt Management Services Act bill, HB 895 restored 12-month card validity and a two-year caregiver license period for the cannabis bill, HB 1923 funded the Athletic Commission at $174,000, HB 1937 finalized the Library Commission budget, and HB 1940 was a large deficit/appropriations bill covering settlements, public safety headquarters construction, MIMA grants, court support, DHS software, health litigation expenses, and student aid. The House also voted to invite conference on a number of bills, including HB 1390, HB 1651, HB 1649, HB 1653, HB 1654, HB 1752, HB 1648, HB 1934, HB 1935, HB 1936, HB 1938, HB 925, HB 1640, HB 1927, HB 1928, HB 1929, HB 1930, HB 1931, and HB 1924. During debate on HB 1940, members questioned the need for outside counsel and the size of legal and settlement costs, especially for Jackson water litigation; the sponsor said the Attorney General sometimes needs specialized outside attorneys. The bill ultimately passed concurrence, and the chamber continued with additional introductions and recognitions after the major votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, when we create funds for cities, do they have to get approval from DFA to be expended?
• :49.120> that<01:22:49.679> require authorities that require authorities that require DFA
• to approve how [snorts] funds are DFA to approve how [snorts] funds are are<01:22:55.440> spent
• the highway patrol moves out and moves to their new location in Rankin County, that will allow the DFA
• to sale or lease that will allow the DFA to sale or lease it<04:13:52.319> to<04:13:52.640>

Keywords: MS House Floor - 10 February, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then established a quorum and dispensed with the reading of the journal. Members also introduced a number of guests and visitors, including University of Southern Mississippi programs, 4-H participants from across the state, and several local constituents. A Mississippi 4-H president, Morgan White, addressed the chamber and spoke about the value of 4-H in building leadership, confidence, and agricultural skills, and noted the state’s first-in-the-nation 4-H slingshot curriculum and competition. The chamber then moved to the calendar and took up several bills. House Bill 943 was called up and passed after a committee substitute was adopted; the bill was explained as removing a repealer related to joint reports of examination by the Commissioner of Banking and Finance and the Federal Reserve Bank. House Bill 1265 also passed after being explained as extending a repealer for the debt service management act. House Bill 1477 was taken up next and generated extended discussion; it would create a process for abandoned safety deposit box contents, requiring notice to owners, allowing a period to cure delinquency, and then transferring contents to the Treasury Department for eventual disposition. Members asked several questions about House Bill 1477, especially about how long property would be held, how heirs would be notified, how cash and tangible items would be treated, and whether documents such as wills should be scanned or preserved before destruction. The bill’s sponsor said cash would remain unclaimed property, tangible items would generally be sold at public auction, and the Treasury Department would hold property for a minimum period before sale, with heirs still able to claim it for a time. The sponsor also said the bill had support from banking and credit union groups. No final vote on House Bill 1477 is shown in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm not selling... ...as a dairy, the health department won't do it because I'm not selling to the DFA
• But if the producer doesn't sell to a milk cooperative like DFA, the health department doesn't take the
• construction of the floor the walls the everything but if the producer doesn't sell to a milk cooperative like DFA
• doesn't sell to a milk cooperative like dFA the health department doesn't take the time to inspect them

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from its October 27 meeting and then heard testimony from Clinton Ballard of Milk and Honey Hill Farm about the impact of Act 698 on raw dairy producers. Ballard said the law allowed his farm to expand from one cow to 12, serve about 150 families, increase sales by roughly $50,000, and sell about $10,000 in raw cheese and other products through retail outlets. He argued the law improved farm income, food security, and local supply, and he asked for an optional state inspection/certification path for raw milk producers so they could access USDA grants and other opportunities available to licensed dairies. Committee members asked about herd management, safety practices, bee production, market channels, and whether such certification should remain voluntary; Ballard said he follows Grade A-style sanitation, chills milk quickly, removes sick cows from production, and supports optional training or inspection but not mandatory regulation. Members also raised food safety concerns, especially for children and pregnant women, and Ballard responded that raw milk producers rely on cleanliness, rapid cooling, consumer feedback, and truth in labeling. He said the health department currently inspects commercial dairies but not raw milk producers who do not sell through a cooperative, and he believed state inspection would help producers distinguish themselves and qualify for funding without changing interstate rules. Several members discussed the balance between consumer choice, safety, and possible “mission creep” if the state created a certification system. The committee then heard a lengthy presentation from Terence Bolden of TLB Enterprises on hydroponic and container farming as a response to food insecurity and food deserts. Bolden described a three-year workforce and career-technical program built around retrofitted shipping containers, drones, robotics, agribusiness, and AI, with partnerships involving schools, universities, Farm Bureau, UAPB, the Little Rock School District, and other entities. He said the model could create year-round local food production, support school cafeterias and community markets, and generate jobs and economic impact, estimating at least four jobs per container and potentially significant regional economic benefits. Members asked about costs, target communities, energy needs, crop types, and implementation timelines; Bolden said the first containers for school sites could be in place by late summer or early fall, with pilot projects already underway in Arkansas and Orlando. The meeting adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm not selling... ...as a dairy, the health department won't do it because I'm not selling to the DFA
• But if the producer doesn't sell to a milk cooperative like DFA...
• But if the producer doesn't sell to a milk cooperative like DFA, the health department doesn't take the
• Witness: ...doesn't sell to a milk cooperative like DFA, the health department doesn't take the time

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I may have to defer to DFA for a more exact answer, but my understanding is this is appropriation requests
• Jim Hutz, the Secretary, DFA. I didn't hear all the questions.
• The cover letter submitted by DFA accounting states they have reviewed and submitted 17 projects for
• Jim Hudson, Secretary of DFA, as I shared when I presented the governor's balanced budget, you know,

Summary: The PEER Review Subcommittee met to consider a large agenda of appropriation, transfer, contract, and other review items. Members approved temporary appropriation requests in Sections B through F, including funding for prosecuting attorneys, education-related adjustments, school operating needs, labor licensing divisions, ARPA fund returns from Workforce Services, IIJA grants for state police CDL implementation and a forestry-related county grant, reserve fund transfers for teacher scholarships, school facilities, and economic development, and a Commerce reallocation tied to organizational realignment. Cash fund requests in Section G and budget classification transfers in Section H were also reviewed, along with pay plan requests in Section I, overtime requests in Section J, and multiple methods of finance in Section K. The committee also reviewed discretionary grants in Section L, including agriculture promotion board grants and DHS aging/adult behavioral health grants, plus RFQs, construction contracts, intergovernmental contracts, and out-of-state contracts in Sections M1 through M5. Several items drew questions from members. Workforce Services explained that $225,000 in TANF-related funds would be returned to the federal government because the two-year hold period for uncashed or moved checks had expired. Commerce officials described the $25 million site infrastructure grant program, saying it supports site development, due diligence, and infrastructure build-out at eligible sites of 30 acres or more, including rural communities, with grant agreements and matching requirements providing accountability. DHS and Education officials answered questions about the Care Solace mental health referral contract, saying it is a statewide concierge/referral service that helps schools connect students to Arkansas providers and follow up so students do not fall through the cracks; members asked for more information on provider selection, school-day scheduling, and Arkansas vendor participation. The committee held one item over: the DHS discretionary grant item for the RSVP retired senior volunteer program in L2, after concerns were raised about whether state general revenue was being used effectively and how much administrative overhead the providers retain. Members also questioned several contracts, including a DHS sole-source contract with EMSLink for document management software and a DHS bridge contract with Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care for Medicaid inspections of care reviews; in both cases, agency staff explained the need to avoid service disruption and said follow-up information would be provided. A Department of Corrections reentry center contract was discussed for its recidivism results, and ARDOT retirement-system investment contracts were briefly explained. The meeting ended after a lengthy discussion of the Medicaid Trust Fund balance, with DFA and DHS officials saying the state is expected to finish the fiscal year without exhausting the fund, that a restricted reserve of $100 million is available as a backstop, and that the larger question is what minimum balance should be maintained going forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• would require that the plans be developed by the Public Education Department with consultation from DFA
• Plans be developed by the Public Education Department with consultation from DFA, LFC, and LASC.
• So, starting on C, the DFA receives the funds and distributes it to all these funds that we've identified
• Chairman, the DFA is where the Community Benefit Fund will be housed, but then they will distribute it

Transcript Highlights:

• It was a slight increase only because, um, DFA had increased their fees and that was the only increase
• <00:30:06.799> had increase only because um DFA had increase only because um DFA had increased
• fiscal equipment leases, legal and fiscal services,<01:02:49.200> additional<01:02:49.680> DFA
• <01:02:50.319> charges, services, additional DFA charges, services, additional DFA charges
• Mileage allowances and non-reimbursement amounts are determined by DFA, as you know, and those amounts

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 22 January, 2026; 8:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The hearing began with the State Board of Architecture’s budget presentation. The executive director described the board’s mission to regulate architecture, landscape architecture, and certified interior design to protect public health and safety. He highlighted the board’s consolidated structure, license totals, high reciprocity rate, recent rule changes to reduce barriers to practice, and a proposed FY 2027 budget of $368,123, which included a 5% staff salary increase and higher operating costs. He also noted a newly identified need to modernize the licensing system, estimated at at least $25,000, and asked that the board not be reduced below the requested level. A board member also praised the small staff’s responsiveness and effectiveness. The State Board of Public Accountancy then presented its budget and policy requests. The executive director said the board regulates CPAs and CPA firms, oversees the CPA exam process, and has about 3,600 active individual licensees and 800 firms. The board requested only a 3% compensation increase for staff, plus a special request to allow an audit supervisor to repay the cost of a Becker review course through payroll deduction as part of succession planning. She also described a board-approved waiver program that began January 1, eliminating application fees for CPA exam candidates and retakes; 42 candidates had used the waiver in the first two weeks. In response to questions, she said the board does not assist CPAs with IRS disputes, but it does investigate complaints from the IRS, SEC, PCAOB, or others. Finally, a representative presented for the Board of Licensed Professional Counselors. She explained that the board regulates licensed counselors and psychotherapy providers, meets frequently, and has two staff members. The board’s main request was for additional investigative capacity: a full-time investigator and related funding, because complaints are currently handled by part-time investigators, contractors, and sometimes board members, which can require recusals from hearings. She said the state auditor had recently flagged complaint backlogs at regulatory agencies, supporting the request. The board also sought funding for a contractual administrative position, salary progressions, and a one-time technology increase to modify its new licensing system for the counseling compact and better search functions. Members questioned the board about its large cash balance, which was reported at about $860,000, and whether it should provide fee relief or other benefits to members; the presenter said the board would look into that and noted that revenues had increased significantly in recent years, partly due to out-of-state and telehealth-related licensing demand.

Transcript Highlights:

• uh, the best and final offer was removed to streamline procurement, was based on expert advice from DFA
• And in fact, it was both DFA and the director of the LFC who we were on a phone call with that told us
• opinion that I thought that that was very bad public policy, and I was told by both the director of the DFA
• and the, uh, or the staff at the DFA and Director Soleil that that was how it's, it was going to have
• He also works with DFA. We've got a joint budget system.

Transcript Highlights:

• Other reporting we do involving the data we collect, we obviously do the FIRs for LFC and DFA during
• The New Mexico Sentencing Commission works with DFA to essentially get a cost estimate under the act
• We provide numbers to DFA.
• Then DFA, there's a fund DFA decides how much they're going to allocate to the counties for holding.
• DFA then will pay out amounts to counties.

Bills: SB100

Keywords: burglary, aggravated burglary, dwelling, criminal law, property rights, 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• While you get there here at the table today we have Secretary Rob Black with EDD, Andrew Miner with DFA
• Andrew Miner from DFA is pinch hitting for EDD this morning.
• So with With that, I'll turn to my counterpart at DFA, Ms. Vigil. Good morning. Mr.
• Andrew Minor with DFA and then CFO Cindy Montoya with the Governor's Office.
• The LFC and DFA analysts have reached consensus on all performance measures and targets. Mr.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It asks agencies, working together with DFA and LFC, to break down their spending at the service level
• road fund revenue, $107 million of restricted fund revenue, $9.3 million from a transfer from TRD and DFA
• Chair, Representative, I think it was provided by DFA at LFC.
• I'm sorry, I was looking at them saying DFA, so it was provided By LFC.
• matching funds, and my question is, were the matching funds that you applied for and received from the DFA

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The advisory is going to provide guidance to DFA, but the advisory board cannot vote on anything that
• is pertaining or that DFA must follow.
• So there will be a lot of things that DFA will take care of through... $90,000 of a truck to be paid
• It's only advisory in<03:47:46.000> nature, in nature, in nature, and<03:47:47.440> DFA
• pertaining or that that DFA must follow. pertaining or that that DFA must follow.

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 31 March, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, received an invocation from Dr. Reginald Anderson, and recited the pledge of allegiance. The journal and committee reports were dispensed with by voice vote. Early in the meeting, senators also introduced guests, including Dr. Adrian Gilliam Pierre as doctor of the day and several school groups and community visitors in the galleries. A major portion of the session was devoted to recognizing student athletes and coaches through commendation resolutions. The Senate honored the Northside High School Gators boys basketball team for winning its first Class 2A state championship, the Morton High School Panthers boys basketball team for winning the 2025 Class 4A title, East Rankin Academy teams for multiple championships, Simpson County Academy’s boys cross country team and Lily Overby, Brookhaven Academy’s fast-pitch softball team, and several other schools and programs. The chamber also recognized Mississippi artist Castro Coleman (Mr. Sipp) for his music contributions, and later introduced the Meridian High School Choir, Brookhaven Academy fifth graders, and David Hoke, who has delivered Bibles to all 50 state legislatures. The Senate then took up nominations and approved three by advise-and-consent: Kent Gerard Nico to the Mississippi Hospital Equipment and Facilities Authority, Marcus Jones Martin to the State Tax Appeals Board, and Keith Allen Williams Jr. to the Mississippi Business Finance Corporation. After that, Senator Kirby moved to suspend the rules and take up a large block of commending resolutions, which the Senate agreed to consider together. The block included numerous resolutions honoring schools, athletes, educators, and community figures, and the Senate agreed to proceed to final passage by roll call with no objection noted.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a letter from DFA Assessment Coordination. This was for $90,000 of spending authority.
• This is a letter from DFA Assessment Coordination. This is for $90,000 of spending authority.
• H3 is a request from DFA Disbursement Officer. This is for $6.35 million.
• H3 is a request from DFA Disbursement Officer. This is for $6.35 million.

Summary: The committee met to consider a series of appropriation, reserve transfer, and grant requests. Early items included temporary appropriations for the Department of Education’s Educational Freedom Account program ($32 million), the State Crime Lab ($476,000), and DFA Assessment Coordination ($90,000), along with a $1 ARPA return from the Department of Health. The committee approved these items after brief questions, including a discussion about contract cost increases at Assessment Coordination and a clarification that the $1 ARPA item was simply an unused-funds return. The most extensive discussion centered on the Department of Education’s EFA funding. Members questioned the growth in participation, the use of one-time funds and restricted reserves, and safeguards against fraud or improper purchases. Agency officials said about 44,000 students were being funded, that purchases are reviewed and flagged for unusual activity, and that homeschool students are not required to buy a curriculum so long as purchases are eligible and approved. The committee approved the EFA appropriation and related reserve transfer, and officials said the governor’s proposed budget would include the program in the RSA going forward. The committee also approved a DHS reallocation request and reviewed a building authority loan for a data center power supply replacement. In the federal grant section, members discussed a Department of Agriculture request for Central Arkansas Water to acquire land in the Maumelle watershed. Debate focused on the environmental benefits versus local property-tax and development concerns in Perry County, with testimony from the agency, Central Arkansas Water, and Potlatch about watershed protection, public access, and potential development impacts. After extended discussion, the committee adopted a motion to defer the item to the full Legislative Council and asked the department to remove the Perry County portion from the request, limiting the grant-funded purchase to Pulaski County property. The committee then reviewed remaining items, including a Veterans Affairs pay-plan appropriation, and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a letter from DFA assessment coordination. This was for 90,000. Last item is B3.
• This is a letter from DFA assessment coordination. This is for $90,000 of spending authority.
• H3 is a request from DFA Disbursing Officer. This is for $6.35 million.
• H3 is a request from DFA Disbursing Officer. This is for $6.35 million.

Summary: The committee met to consider a series of temporary appropriation requests, reserve fund transfers, federal grant appropriations, and review items. Early items included a $32 million appropriation and matching reserve transfer for the Department of Education’s educational freedom account program, a $476,000 request for the State Crime Lab, and a $90,000 assessment coordination request from DFA. Members asked questions about the assessment contract costs, and the item was approved. The committee also approved a $1 ARPA return to the CDC and a Department of Human Services reallocation package that moved general revenue and positions among divisions to meet client needs. The most extensive discussion centered on a $32 million restricted reserve transfer for the educational freedom account program. Members questioned the growing number of participating students, the program’s long-term funding needs, and safeguards against improper purchases. Agency representatives said about 44,000 students were being funded, that reimbursements and marketplace purchases are reviewed, and that reporting and audit controls are in place, though not every instance of fraud can be prevented. The committee approved the transfer after discussion. Members also approved smaller cash and federal grant items, including funding for a teacher shortage data dashboard, All Kids Bike grants, crime lab outsourcing, veterans cemetery operations, and a podiatric medicine licensing investigation fund. The most contentious item was a $7 million federal Forest Legacy grant request for Central Arkansas Water and the Department of Agriculture to acquire land in the Maumelle watershed, including acreage in Perry County and Pulaski County. Members debated water quality, development pressure, property tax impacts, local support, and whether Perry County had been adequately consulted. Agency and company representatives argued the acquisition would protect drinking water, preserve forested watershed land, and support recreation, while some legislators emphasized the county’s tax and development concerns. Senator Davis moved to defer the item to the full Legislative Council and to request removal of the Perry County portion; that motion passed. The committee then reviewed the remaining items, including a Veterans Affairs pay plan request, and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) and State Personnel Office, and Joey Simons in
• This, again, was a Great collaboration between the LFC, DFA, and State Personnel Office.
• It was just, you know, the support of LFC bringing in DFA and the State Personnel Office with a trusted
• At a validating session just for labor unions to provide feedback to Deloitte, LFC, SPO, and DFA, and
• About the $17 million that was set aside, agencies have been allocated that money by DFA to both pay

Transcript Highlights:

• The cover letter submitted by DFA Accounting states that they have reviewed and submitted three projects
• Number seven, DFA Child Support Enforcement with Rock Doc for Australian services of the Office of Child
• Number eight, DFA Revenue Services with Veteran Cleaning Service for janitorial services in the Ragland

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And this amendment brings forward the fact that the way the bill As it stands, we're giving DFA carte
• To drill that out here now, those programs deserve to know that and not be at the will of DFA.

Transcript Highlights:

• The state recognizes that as forest reserves, and those funds come through DFA out to schools and counties
• of the special districts, and I'm trying to get my arms around these, and I would hope that LFC and DFA
• And DFA as well. I've included on page 19. These are coming off of the 2025 tax certificates.
• enough expertise yet to really drill down, but I really want to make sure that you're talking to LFC and DFA
• DFA, I think, is also looking at some real-time solutions, and it helps us all. So, thank you.

Transcript Highlights:

• You all have recently appropriated some emergency funds to DFA that the infrastructure office administers
• The problem that we have is DFA.
• When those small rural areas have to deal with DFA, they get lost in that shuffle.
• or to us as a committee, to streamline or make coherent these processes for these state agencies and DFA

Keywords: 996, all