MS HB1602

State agencies that fail to file an original budget request within 30 calendar days after the deadline must contract with a third party to prepare the budget request within 10 days

The third-party prepared budget must be 3% lower than the agency's current budget from state general funds

Contractors must submit the budget request within 30 days of contract execution; failure to do so triggers a freeze on the agency's current fiscal year appropriation

Agencies must pay the contractor within 45 days or face appropriation freezes, and if payment is not made, the responsible officer or employee becomes personally liable for the expense

The Joint Legislative Budget Committee cannot recommend a budget higher than the reduced amount in a contractor-prepared budget request