Mississippi law funds higher education programs for fiscal year 2027

The act provides state and special-fund money to the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning for listed programs and its executive office. The money supports the institutes, laboratories, centers, programs, and board executive office named in the act. The amounts are appropriated as needed for the stated purposes. The appropriations cover the fiscal year from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.

The act sets aside $121,968 for the equivalent of a $2,000 salary increase for professors and adjunct professors at six named programs. The programs are the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems, Center for Manufacturing Excellence, Mississippi Mineral Resources Institute, Stennis Institute of Government, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences. The institutional executive officer decides whether to provide the increases. The allocation is part of the fiscal year 2027 state appropriation.

The Mississippi State Chemical Laboratory cannot use these appropriations to provide a client additional services when the client has charges more than 90 days overdue. The restriction covers additional laboratory services paid for from these appropriations and clients with overdue charges for earlier services. The restriction applies after the laboratory has provided the maximum free services allowed by law. The laboratory may provide more services after the client pays all overdue charges. The restriction applies while charges for earlier services remain more than 90 days past due.