HB 91 Mississippi House · 2025 Regular Session

Alcoholic beverages; revise policy of state regarding prohibition of, revise certain provisions regarding delivery service permits.

This bill renounces Mississippi's state policy of prohibition, allowing the legal sale and delivery of alcoholic beverages statewide starting January 1, 2026, except in counties that vote to institute prohibition through a public election. It revises the frequency at which counties can hold prohibition elections and updates rules for delivery services, including how package retailers contract with delivery permittees for alcohol shipments. The bill also legalizes alcohol possession throughout Mississippi (effective January 1, 2021) and adjusts regulatory definitions for the alcohol industry.
Bill status died 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
House Passage
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 12, 2025 Last action Mar 4, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Introduced → Committee Substitute · 7 edits
MODERATE
This bill fundamentally reverses Mississippi's alcohol policy by renouncing prohibition as state policy and allowing the legal manufacture, sale, and distribution of alcoholic beverages, except in counties that vote to maintain prohibition. The bill also creates numerous exceptions for specific locations, facilities, and municipalities regardless of local prohibition votes. It significantly expands the definition of 'qualified resort areas' and adds many specific geographic locations and facilities that are exempt from prohibition laws.
Scope change
The bill changes the state's default policy from prohibition to allowing alcohol sales, with local option elections determining prohibition in specific counties. It creates extensive exceptions for specific locations, facilities, and municipalities that are exempt from prohibition regardless of local votes.
POLICY

Changed state policy from prohibition to allowing legal manufacture, sale, distribution, and transportation of alcoholic beverages, effective January 1, 2026, except in counties that vote to maintain prohibition.

EXCEPTIONS

Added numerous specific geographic locations, facilities, and municipalities that are exempt from prohibition laws regardless of local election results, including specific golf courses, state parks, and municipalities.

DEFINITION

Added extensive new definitions for terms like 'qualified resort area,' 'native wine,' 'native spirit,' 'cooking school,' 'art studio or gallery,' and 'spa facility' with specific criteria and geographic locations.

ELIGIBILITY

Modified eligibility criteria for clubs, hotels, restaurants, and other establishments to include many specific geographic locations and facilities that were previously not covered.

TIMELINE

Added specific dates including January 1, 2026 for policy changes, and December 31, 2025 as the cutoff for holding elections to establish qualified resort areas.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirements for counties and municipalities to hold elections to determine whether to institute prohibition, with specific petition thresholds and notice periods.

ENFORCEMENT

Modified enforcement provisions to allow possession of native wines and spirits even in prohibition areas, and added specific forfeiture procedures for violations.

Floor votes · House Feb 11, 2025

How they voted

71–34
Passed · 14 other
Total votes 119
Feb 11, 2025
D Democratic39
25 Yea 12 Nay 2
64% Yea
I Independent2
2 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican78
44 Yea 22 Nay 12
56% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
7
Key actions
2
Committee
3
Feb 17, 2025
Committee
Referred To Finance
upper
Feb 12, 2025
Introduced
Transmitted To Senate
lower
Feb 11, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
Feb 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
Title Suff Do Pass Comm Sub
lower
Jan 10, 2025
Committee
Referred To State Affairs
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Brent Powell
Brent Powell
RRepublican
MS
59