MS HB1737

Appropriates $17,322,192.00 from the State General Fund and $73,770,137.00 from special funds to the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026).

Authorizes 518 permanent positions and 42 time-limited positions within the department with restrictions on salary escalations without additional funding.

Allocates $5,750,000.00 from state excise taxes on gasoline, oil and petroleum products to the Fisheries and Wildlife Fund.

Designates specific funding allocations including $400,000.00 for Chronic Wasting Disease detection in deer, $175,000.00 for Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service partnership, and $200,000.00 for Youth Participation Initiative in hunting and fishing education.

Reappropriates $3,800,000.00 in Capital Expense Funds for parks improvements ($2,300,000.00) and museum renovations ($1,500,000.00), and establishes performance targets for licensing, fisheries, wildlife management, law enforcement, parks operations, and museum programming.