SB2026 Summary

• Appropriates $438,203,210.00 in general funds and $30,750,389.00 in special funds to the Mississippi Department of Corrections for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026).

• Authorizes 2,784 permanent and 111 time-limited positions with $143,999,745.00 allocated for employee salaries, wages, and fringe benefits across all department divisions.

• Grants the Commissioner authority to transfer up to 25% of budgets between and within departmental units, with required reporting to legislative committees by December 15 annually.

• Establishes performance targets for various correctional operations including inmate programs, recidivism rates, parole numbers, and security metrics, with reporting requirements in the Fiscal Year 2027 budget request.

• Sets specific operational requirements including $32.71 per diem rates for regional facilities, monitoring of medical services contracts funded at $690,000.00, and $500,000.00 for transitional housing and post-release reentry programs.