MS HB1734

Appropriates $2,565,843.00 from the State General Fund for the Public Utilities Staff for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026).

Appropriates an additional $80,000.00 from the Project Atlas Fund for expediting services needed for Project Atlas.

Authorizes 24 permanent positions and 0 time-limited positions for the agency.

Restricts future salary increases and position escalations unless new programs or positions are added to the budget, with limitations on use of vacancy funds for promotions or in-range adjustments.

Requires the agency to maintain complete accounting and personnel records in the same format and detail as fiscal year 2025 and submit comparable budget requests for fiscal year 2027.