Mississippi funds animal health work and outbreak response

The law provides $1,968,554 from the state General Fund and authorizes spending up to $1,264,495 from special funds for the board’s expenses. The funding is for the Mississippi Board of Animal Health. The special-fund amount may be spent only from funds collected or otherwise made available for the board’s expenses. The funding covers the fiscal year from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.

The law limits employee spending and authorizes 23 permanent and 5 time-limited positions for the board. The limits cover the board’s salaries, wages, benefits, and authorized positions. Employee funds cannot be transferred to another spending category. Vacancy funds are for filling authorized positions that were vacant at the end of fiscal year 2026, not for raises or promotions. These employee-funding and staffing limits apply during fiscal year 2027, from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.

The law provides $450,000 from the Animal Health Disaster Response Fund for outbreak response, including $25,000 for hazard pay. The funds cover the Board of Animal Health’s expenses responding to animal disease outbreaks. Hazard pay may be increased only with Department of Finance and Administration approval and required records of hours each staff member worked on each outbreak. The funds are provided for fiscal year 2027, from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.