Mississippi funds health services and water programs for 2027

The Mississippi State Department of Health can spend up to $61,633,807 from the State General Fund and $529,451,161 from special funds. The money supports statewide health programs, including services for mothers and children, cancer care, school nurses, and emergency care. These amounts are spending ceilings, not guaranteed spending. The budget includes $11,328,783 from the Health Care Expendable Fund and $20 million from the Tobacco Control Program Fund for designated health programs. The budget assigns $34 million to trauma care. Payments to out-of-state hospitals are limited to listed hospitals, their affiliates, and other participating top-level trauma or advanced children's trauma centers identified by the department. Pay and benefits spending is capped at $151,990,832, with exceptions for approved budget increases. The department has authority for 678 permanent positions and 1,394 time-limited positions; these are not guaranteed hires. Money reserved for vacancies must fill positions rather than raise current workers' pay. General funds cannot replace withdrawn federal or special salary funds. The budget covers July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. The law took effect July 1, 2026.

The Mississippi State Department of Health can spend up to $8,300,000 in general funds and $176,837,437 from designated water-system loan funds. The funding serves local governments and rural water systems through the state water-system loan funds. The $8.3 million supplies matching money for projected federal Clean Water State Revolving Fund money and supplemental federal infrastructure funding. These amounts may be spent only as needed for the Local Governments and Rural Water Systems Improvements Board's expenses. Both amounts cover July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.

The Mississippi State Department of Health can spend up to $7,787,845 in general funds for medical cannabis administration and $3 million from the Mississippi Burn Care Fund. The cannabis money funds the department's work under the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act. Burn-care money serves Mississippi residents. Medical cannabis pay and benefits spending is capped at $2,410,715, with exceptions for approved budget increases. The law authorizes 34 time-limited positions. Burn-care funding covers unpaid care at eligible Mississippi burn facilities and unpaid air transport to qualified out-of-state burn facilities. Burn-care funding also covers reasonable travel expenses for patients, family members, and caregivers. Both funding amounts cover July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.

The Mississippi State Department of Health must direct designated parts of its main budget to violence-response grants, opioid programs, and public health priorities. These amounts are included in the department's main funding totals, rather than added on top of them. The Office Against Interpersonal Violence receives $10.3 million for grants that repay allowed expenses. Up to $300,000 may pay for administration. The Opioid Settlement Fund supplies $4.5 million for the Opioid and Substance Use Disorder Program and $60,765 for Delta Health Center's effort to prevent opioid deaths in six Mississippi Delta counties. Opioid funding recipients must swear in writing that they have not entered prohibited contracts tying compensation to the success or failure of legislation or executive action to pursue this funding. Recipients who fail to certify or violate the certification cannot receive or use the money. The Legislature intends $1 million to build capacity for chronic-disease care, cancer screening for uninsured people, and care aimed at reducing deaths among mothers and infants. These amounts apply to the July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, budget.

The Mississippi State Department of Health can use remaining Capital Expense Fund money for City of Jackson water litigation and borrow temporarily while awaiting federal reimbursements. The renewed spending authority covers the department's City of Jackson water litigation. The borrowing authority covers temporary shortages of cash. Litigation spending cannot exceed $3,770,690 or the balance left unspent on June 30, 2026, whichever is lower. The money must keep its originally authorized purpose. The department may obtain a line of credit through the State Treasurer from the Working Cash-Stabilization Fund or other special funds in the State Treasury. Borrowing cannot exceed $10 million and must cover cash shortages while awaiting federal reimbursements. Litigation funding covers July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. Loans must be repaid from the first available funds and cannot remain unpaid beyond the quarter following their start.