SB 2235 requires Mississippi local law enforcement to notify a juvenile's school district within 24 hours of arresting a person aged 12-18 for a felony. The law directly affects schools, law enforcement agencies, and juveniles involved in felony arrests. It specifies that "local law enforcement" (within the same county as the school) must provide this notification, defining "juvenile" as ages 12-18. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and expires June 30, 2026, per the text. This is a procedural requirement focused on timely school notification, not policy changes to arrest procedures.
SB 2281 establishes new rules for Mississippi livestock producers who want to slaughter cattle, sheep, swine, or goats for personal use (not commercial sale). To qualify, producers must allow customers to inspect and choose animals, complete sales before slaughter, provide owner details to the slaughter plant, stamp all meat "Not for Sale," and charge only per head or live weight (not dressed weight). The meat can only be used by the owner, their household, nonpaying guests, or employees. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, but expires June 30, 2026, making it effective for only one day. It directly affects small-scale producers using the custom slaughter exemption.
SB 2252 removes a prohibition on using underground injection methods for hazardous waste disposal. It also eliminates requirements for the Permit Board to assess whether new waste facilities comply with Mississippi's waste management plan or regional agreements. Additionally, the bill deletes language stating the law meets federal regulatory standards. These changes reduce specific regulatory hurdles for hazardous waste facilities seeking permits in Mississippi.
SB 2256 allows Mississippi county boards of supervisors to maintain, repair, and enlarge abandoned public or nonprofit cemeteries within county boundaries, including those located inside municipalities. The bill permits counties to use available county funds for these repairs and bill municipalities for reimbursement when cemeteries are within municipal limits. It also clarifies that counties can accept title to neglected cemeteries outside municipal boundaries (if they threaten public health) and authorizes action on historically significant cemeteries certified by the state archives department. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and does not affect for-profit cemeteries or family burial grounds.
This bill allows Mississippi grocery stores to sell wine in sealed, unopened bottles for take-home consumption. It requires stores with this new "wine-only" permit to earn at least 50% of their revenue from wine sales (excluding beer), prohibits on-premises consumption, and limits ownership to six such permits per person. Grocery stores must apply for this specific permit from the state Department of Revenue, and wine sales cannot include beer or other alcohol types. The law updates existing alcohol regulations to permit this change while maintaining key restrictions.
HB 749 extends deadlines for renewable energy projects to qualify for tax benefits in Mississippi. It pushes the construction start date for eligible projects from December 31, 2026, to December 31, 2030, and requires county boards and municipal authorities to approve tax exemptions by July 1, 2029 (instead of 2026). This directly affects renewable energy developers seeking partial ad valorem tax exemptions and local governments responsible for approving these agreements. The bill does not create new tax policies but extends existing deadlines for projects already covered under Sections 27-31-46.1 and 27-31-104 of Mississippi law.
Mississippi's HB 745 requires wireless service providers to share a user's phone location with law enforcement or emergency services during emergencies involving risk of death or serious harm. It mandates disclosure for 911 calls or urgent safety threats, while allowing providers to establish voluntary disclosure protocols. The bill shields providers from lawsuits if they share location data in good faith and directs the Department of Public Safety to collect provider contact information for emergency requests. This temporary measure (effective July 1, 2026, expiring June 30, 2026) directly affects wireless providers and law enforcement agencies responding to critical incidents.
HB 827, the "Rick Kennedy Act," requires that a person’s Mississippi hunting license be suspended if they cause injury or death to another person while hunting (using a firearm, bow, arrow, or other hunting weapon) and face criminal charges. The license remains suspended until the criminal case ends with dismissal, acquittal, or a not-guilty verdict. To reinstate the license after such an incident, the person must complete an approved hunter safety course, serve a one-year probation period, and appear before the wildlife commission. Law enforcement must notify the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks within 48 hours of the criminal charges being filed.
HB 969 requires Mississippi municipalities and counties to automatically pause certain property-related rulings - such as demolition orders, tree removal, or nuisance abatement - when an appeal is filed, keeping the ruling on hold until the appeal process ends. During this pause, no irreversible actions can be taken, and if a government entity violates the stay, they must pay property owners damages including at least $10,000 per structure or tree destroyed, plus restoration costs and attorney fees. The bill amends state law to clarify that property owners can sue for these damages under the Tort Claims Act without government immunity for willful or reckless violations.
SB 2309 amends Mississippi Code Section 49-17-743 to protect county authorities' existing powers over water, wastewater, and stormwater systems. It prohibits the Public Service Commission from making rulings, rules, or decisions that interfere with these county authorities' operations. The bill clarifies that the Commission retains its authority to issue certificates of public convenience to entities other than county authorities. This change specifically affects county authorities managing utility systems and the Public Service Commission, ensuring county powers remain intact without limiting the Commission's other regulatory functions.
HB 1136 defines obesity medicine as part of medical practice in Mississippi and allows physicians certified in obesity medicine to prescribe FDA-approved obesity drugs (including GLP-1 medications like Wegovy or Ozempic) via telemedicine. The bill amends telemedicine rules to explicitly include obesity medicine consultations and requires HIPAA-compliant technology for remote prescribing. This directly affects Mississippi physicians specializing in obesity care and patients seeking medication-based obesity treatment without in-person visits. The law mandates the State Board of Medical Licensure to create implementing rules, ensuring remote prescriptions follow state medical standards.
SB 2339 makes it unlawful for individuals subject to certain domestic restraining orders (with specific findings of risk) or convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence to possess firearms or ammunition. The bill requires courts to explicitly find that firearm retention poses a safety risk to the petitioner, children, or vulnerable persons before ordering removal. It mandates that court clerks enter firearm removal orders into Mississippi's protection order registry within 12 hours and deliver copies to law enforcement via electronic or hand-delivery methods. Violations carry penalties of up to $10,000 fines or 2-10 years in prison.
