MS HB5

Appropriates $17,751,623.00 from the State General Fund and $13,668,617.00 from special funds to the State Forestry Commission for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026).

Allocates $17,332,928.00 total for personal services including $16,785,156.00 for employee salaries and fringe benefits, with authorized headcount of 259 permanent and 7 time-limited positions, plus 7 new positions.

Directs $200,000.00 from special funds to be transferred to the Department of Agriculture and Commerce for the Beaver Control or Eradication Program during fiscal year 2026.

Establishes performance targets for forest protection (2.00 hour average suppression time, 15,000 acres under prescribed burn program, 95% of fires suppressed at 100 acres or less) and forest management (35,000 acres regenerated, 19,200,000 acres monitored for pest/disease/storm damage).

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