Senate adopts supplemental budgets in special session; Medicaid, childcare, mental health and corrections receive targeted funding

The Mississippi Senate completed consideration of supplemental budget bills during a special session called by the governor, approving a series of agency and program budgets, transfers and reappropriations. Senate leaders and appropriations chairmen presented an overview of the supplemental budget package and senators voted on multiple bills by roll call during floor consideration.

Appropriations overview and key allocations Senate Appropriations chair Senator Hobson told the chamber the budget package retained the negotiated baseline from regular session and built in increases for PERS and health insurance across agency budgets. He said the general fund baseline for the package was about $7.135 billion and described a fiscally conservative approach. Hobson noted the Senate included $60,000,000 in new general funds to help Medicaid prepare for possible federal funding changes and put roughly $15,000,000 toward childcare that Hobson said was intended to offset some recent federal reductions.

Hobson also discussed capital expense (CapEx) money as largely one-time funds that remain on the books; he said many previously appropriated CapEx dollars remain unspent and therefore can be targeted in future sessions. He and other…