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In the seventh week of the 2026 Legislative Session, the Mississippi Senate adopted the Senate appropriations bills for a proposed $7.89 billion total state-support fiscal year 2027 budget that contains $18 million for the Military Department, of which $3.3 million will be allotted to Senate Bill 2018, the Mississippi National Guard Tricare Premium Reimbursement Program, that would provide free health insurance coverage for eligible members of the Mississippi National Guard.
Other proposed budgets included:
- $20.9 million for Department of Workforce Development.
- $24.8 million for Veterans Affairs Board which includes $18.9 million for the relocation of the Jackson Nursing Home to Rankin County.
- $9.9 million for Department of Agriculture and Commerce.
The House will next review the measures.
House Bill 515 establishes communication guidelines for radiologist assistants, including, “a radiologist assistant may only communicate their initial observations to the radiologist.”
House Bill 814 authorizes the Mississippi Department of Health to increase food establishment annual permit fees, private water supply approval fees, and onsite wastewater program fees by a certain percentage during the next three fiscal years.
The bills will be sent to the Governor.
The Alcorn State University Choir sang at the Capitol on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, during “Alcorn State University Day at the Capitol.” Senator Albert Butler, Senator Briggs Hopson and Senator Sarita Simmons led the presentation of Senate Resolution 48, commemorating the 155th anniversary of the founding of Alcorn State University.
The Senate met a Monday, February 16, 2026, deadline to dispose of motions to reconsider general bills and constitutional amendments originating in the Senate. The Senate faces a Monday, February 23, 2026, deadline for making requests for appropriation and revenue bills to be drafted; a Wednesday, February 25, 2026, deadline for original floor action on appropriation and revenue bills originating in the Senate; a Thursday, February 26, 2026, deadline for reconsideration and passage of appropriation and revenue bills originating in the Senate; and a Friday, February 27, 2026, deadline to dispose of motions to reconsider appropriation and revenue bills originating in the Senate.