MS HB1724

Appropriates $16,173,704.00 from the State General Fund and $251,588,602.00 from special funds to the Department of Environmental Quality for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026).

Authorizes 212 permanent and 165 time-limited positions for the department, with restrictions on salary increases and personal services expenditures not to exceed fiscal year 2026 appropriated amounts unless new programs are added by the legislature.

Establishes performance metrics for pollution control, water quality, waste management, mining, and dam safety with specific targets (e.g., 85% of air facilities in compliance, 66% of NPDES majors in compliance, 99% of high hazard dams with emergency action plans).

Allocates specific funds including $2,635,000 for Clean Water Grant match, $2,000,000 for Dam Safety Grant Program, $1,000,000 for contamination projects from 2020 EnPro settlement, and $250,000 from Pollution Emergency Fund for legal division environmental protection activities.

Reappropriates $2,906,048.00 in capital expense funds previously authorized in HB 1778 (2024) for Clean Water Grant Program Match, effective July 1, 2025.