MS HB43

Appropriates $4,713,545.00 from the State General Fund and $9,921,012.00 from special funds to the Mississippi Authority for Educational Television for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026).

Authorizes $6,550,368.00 in personal services funding for employee salaries, wages, and fringe benefits, with authorized headcount of 80 permanent and 7 time-limited positions.

Designates $2,118,966.00 from the Education Enhancement Fund and authorizes $1,500,000.00 for tower maintenance and upgrades from Education Enhancement Funds.

Reappropriates $899,202.00 in unexpended Education Enhancement Funds from the prior year for tower maintenance ($175,394.00), content digitalization and Mississippi history ($522,968.00), and a Medgar Evers documentary ($200,840.00).

Establishes performance targets for fiscal year 2026 including 100 locally produced TV programs, 1,092 radio programs, 2,000 DEN classroom students, and 99.95% on-air reliability.