MS Public Records Act; prohibit confidentiality of settlement agreement.

SB 2491 would require all settlement agreements between Mississippi government entities (like state agencies, cities, schools, and local governments) and other parties to be publicly disclosed. The bill prohibits parties from agreeing to keep settlement terms confidential and bans courts from sealing settlement records. This means settlement details - such as amounts or conditions - would be accessible through standard public records requests. It applies to all civil cases involving public bodies, including lawsuits over contracts, services, or disputes. The bill was introduced in 2025 but died in committee before becoming law.