MS HB1824

Appropriates $4,746,807.00 from the State General Fund and $6,408,659.00 from special funds to the Mississippi Authority for Educational Television for fiscal year 2025 (July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025).

Authorizes 80 permanent and 7 time-limited positions; requires the agency to ensure Personal Services funds for FY2026 do not exceed FY2025 levels unless new programs or positions are added by the Legislature.

Establishes performance targets for content operations, education services, technical services, and administration, including 100 locally produced TV programs, 2,000 students served by Digital Education Network, and 99.95% on-air reliability.

Reappropriates $4,019,000.00 from the Education Enhancement Fund for tower maintenance and upgrades ($3,060,000), digitalization of content ($668,000), and a Medgar Evers documentary ($291,000), and $260,000.00 from the Capital Expense Fund for tower maintenance.

Directs utility costs to be paid at $1.50 per square foot to the State Board of Institutions of Higher Learning and allows the Authority to accept grants and donations up to $2,000,000 to defray operational costs.