Law funds Mississippi National Guard operations through June 2027

The law allows Mississippi National Guard spending from state general funds and named special funds. The special funds are the Camp Shelby Timber Fund, Army National Guard Programs Fund, Camp Shelby Base Operations Fund, and Air National Guard Programs Fund. The amounts are spending ceilings, not promises that all the money will be spent. The law authorizes 913 permanent positions and no time-limited positions. State general funds cannot replace withdrawn federal or special funds used for salaries. Training travel and daily expense payments must come from available federal funds, not state general funds. The spending authority covers July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.

The law directs parts of the Guard budget to named education, youth, museum, and veterans programs. The museum is the Armed Forces Military Museum at Camp Shelby. The veterans center is the Sonny Montgomery Center for America's Veterans at Mississippi State University. The State Educational Assistance Program's $5.8 million comes from the Education Enhancement Fund within the special-fund budget. The Youth Challenge Program's $2,339,614 comes from the state general-fund budget. The budget also includes $10,000 for Youth Challenge Program staff uniforms. These allocations cover July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.

The law sets aside $4.4 million from the state general-fund budget for the Tricare Premium Reimbursement Program. The money supports the Tricare Premium Reimbursement Program created under SB 2018 of the 2026 Regular Session. Unused money must return to the General Fund and cannot be transferred to other programs. The program follows SB 2018; this law does not state who qualifies for reimbursement. The allocation covers July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. A report on results, participation, and medical readiness is due to legislative leaders and budget officials on December 1, 2026.

The law provides up to $650,000 from the Capital Expense Fund for Camp Shelby land purchases. Purchases must be within or next to Camp Shelby's training area to expand training space and protect its security buffer. This allocation is part of the special-fund budget, with the State Treasurer determining how it is allocated. Unused money must return to the Capital Expense Fund and cannot be transferred to other programs. The allocation covers July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.

The law reauthorizes spending of remaining Capital Expense Fund money on Youth Challenge Academies facilities. The money covers renovations, repairs, operating upgrades, and additions at Youth Challenge Academies facilities. Spending cannot exceed either $1,912,701 or the unspent balance as of June 30, 2026. The money must keep the purposes approved in SB 2034 of the 2025 First Extraordinary Session. The renewed spending authority runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.