Mississippi Bills

This resolution formally apologizes to Emmett Till's family and the public for Mississippi's role in his 1955 murder and the acquittal of his killers. It acknowledges the state fostered a hostile environment that led to his death, referencing Carolyn Bryant's recent confession about her fabricated testimony. The apology expresses regret for Mississippi's part in denying Till constitutional protections and encourages teaching about this Civil Rights Movement history, with copies distributed to state officials and civil rights groups. It explicitly states the resolution is not for use in legal claims.

HB 1787 allows DeSoto County, Mississippi, to purchase radar speed detection equipment for the sheriff's department to enforce speed limits in school zones on county roads and state highways outside city limits. It directly affects drivers on those roads and school zones, requiring enforcement of posted speed limits near schools. The bill mandates that funds collected from speeding citations issued using this radar must be used to fund school resource officers in DeSoto County public schools. This creates a direct funding mechanism linking traffic enforcement revenue to school safety staffing. The bill applies specifically to school zones outside incorporated municipalities, as defined by the legislation.

HB 1775 authorizes the City of Philadelphia, Mississippi (not Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) to make a one-time $10,000 contribution from its general fund during 2026 to Philadelphia Transit, a nonprofit providing transportation services. This nonprofit serves senior citizens, disabled individuals, low-income families, and the general public in east central Mississippi. The bill directly affects Philadelphia Transit’s funding and the communities it supports, with the contribution limited to a single payment not exceeding $10,000. The legislation is procedural, requiring no new policy changes beyond authorizing this specific financial contribution.

This resolution commends Charlie Kirk for his work promoting conservative grassroots engagement, free speech advocacy, and youth civic participation. It designates September 10 of each year as "Charlie Kirk Day" in Mississippi to honor his efforts in encouraging young people to engage in civic life and uphold constitutional principles. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but formally recognizes Kirk's influence on youth civic involvement and free expression. It affects Mississippi residents through this annual commemoration, primarily serving as a ceremonial acknowledgment by the state legislature.

HB 1788 authorizes the Town of Meadville, Mississippi, to impose a 3% tax on short-term room rentals (excluding stays of 30+ days) from hotels, motels, and bed-and-breakfasts with six or more rooms. Before implementation, the town must hold a public election requiring 60% voter approval. Revenue from the tax must be used exclusively for tourism promotion and parks/recreation projects, not general town funds, and will expire on July 1, 2030. This affects lodging businesses operating within Meadville's boundaries that meet the specified room-count criteria.

This bill requests the Library of Congress Joint Committee to approve replacing Mississippi's current Capitol statues of Jefferson Davis (Confederate president) and James Zachariah George (Confederate colonel and state senator) with statues honoring civil rights leaders Fannie Lou Hamer (voting rights activist) and Hiram Revels (first Black U.S. senator). It directly affects Mississippi's representation in the National Statuary Hall Collection, which currently features these two Confederate figures. The resolution cites Mississippi's desire to honor modern civil rights icons instead of historical figures tied to the Confederacy. The bill seeks to update the Capitol's display to reflect contemporary values while maintaining the state's contribution to the collection.

This bill (HC 43) is a procedural resolution calling a joint session of the Mississippi Legislature to hear Governor Tate Reeves' 2026 State of the State address. It specifies the session will occur on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. in the Second Floor Rotunda of the New Capitol Building. The resolution directly affects legislators, who will convene as a joint body to hear the governor's address, and the governor, who will deliver it. No policy changes or new laws are created by this resolution.

This resolution (SR 27) urges Congress to pass bills H.R. 589 and S. 223, which aim to repeal the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act. It claims the FACE Act has been misused against pro-life activists, citing specific cases where individuals were prosecuted for nonviolent protests near clinics but later acquitted or received harsh sentences. The resolution argues the law has been weaponized by the Biden administration to target pro-life advocates while failing to address attacks on pregnancy centers and churches. It calls for repeal to protect constitutional rights related to free speech and religious expression.

This concurrent resolution prohibits the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration from allowing the display of the rainbow flag (symbolizing the LGBTQ Pride Movement) on any state-owned, leased, or used property, including state buildings. It directly affects all state agencies, political subdivisions, and public properties managed under the Department's authority. The key mechanism requires the Department to enforce this ban on the flag's display, with no exceptions specified in the resolution. The resolution does not alter existing laws or create new penalties but directs a specific administrative action regarding flag displays on state property.

SB 2828, the Money Transmission Modernization Act, requires money transmission licensees (such as companies that send money electronically) to charge customers a fee of $7.50 for transactions under $500 or 1.5% of amounts over $500. Licensees must remit these fees quarterly to the Department of Revenue, with half going to the Law Enforcement 287(g) Program Fund (supporting state/local law enforcement partnering with ICE) and half to the State General Fund. The bill mandates licensees to inform customers they can claim an income tax credit for these fees when filing their taxes. This provision would expire on July 1, 2029.

Mississippi's HB 671 renounces state prohibition as policy, allowing the legal manufacture, sale, distribution, and transportation of alcoholic beverages statewide effective January 1, 2027, except in counties that vote to maintain prohibition via election after that date. It revises how often counties can hold such elections and clarifies that possessing alcohol becomes lawful throughout the state as of January 1, 2021, with exceptions for selling without authorization. The bill amends multiple sections to align with this shift, including updating definitions of "alcoholic beverage" and establishing new rules for delivery services through package retailers. These changes aim to modernize Mississippi's alcohol laws while preserving local option for prohibition via voter referendums.

SB 2728, the Mississippi Chancery Youth Court Act of 2026, standardizes youth court procedures across all Mississippi chancery courts and transitions the system from youth court referees to appointed judges by January 1, 2028. It defines key roles (like "youth court prosecutor," now the county prosecutor in delinquency cases), requires public access to hearings with limited exceptions, creates a new Family Services Forum for youth and families, and establishes a state-wide youth diversion program to reduce court involvement. The bill directly affects youth in delinquency and child welfare cases, county prosecutors, chancery court judges, child welfare agencies, and the Department of Human Services. Key changes include removing barriers to public court access, updating record handling rules, and requiring mandatory training for intake officers.