Mississippi House approves Emergency Management Agency budget after debate on federal funding reliance

The Mississippi House adopted a committee "strike-all" and gave final passage to Senate Bill 3032, the appropriation for the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), after an extended floor exchange about the agency's heavy reliance on federal funding.

The bill passed after adoption of the committee amendment and a roll-call vote. The committee amendment adopted adjustments recommended by the Legislative Budget Recommendation (LBR) and added $427,560 for critical salaries; the house action put the total at $27,181,643. The House vote on final passage was unanimous on the floor (128-0, recorded at final passage on the calendar).

Lawmakers pressed appropriations leaders and MEMA funding advocates about a clause in the bill that states: "No general funds authorized to be expended here shall be used to replace federal funds or any other special funds." Representative Miss Scott (Jones County) repeatedly asked whether that language would leave the agency unable to respond if federal grants were reduced or eliminated.

"If there were a downturn from the federal government, would the emergency management be able to function?" Miss Scott asked, pressing the appropriations chair for contingency options and for whether the agency had articulated a "plan B" to operate without federal dollars.

Appropriations leaders replied that the budget they had presented reflected the state's funding posture and that the committee could address…