HB 1286 requires Mississippi's State Department of Education to provide every Grade 2 public and charter school student with a copy of the book *One Mississippi* for use during "Read Across America Week." Schools must distribute the books (purchased by parents at cost, not for profit) and use a state-developed lesson plan to teach the book's content about Mississippi's state song and heritage. The law applies to all Grade 2 students in the state and takes effect for the 2026-2027 school year.
SB 2718 amends Mississippi's DUI law to allow commercial driver's license (CDL) holders to avoid a criminal conviction for a first-time DUI offense if they were not operating a vehicle requiring their CDL at the time of the offense. Currently, CDL holders face automatic ineligibility for nonadjudication (avoiding a criminal record) in such cases, while non-CDL holders may qualify. The bill equalizes treatment by removing this distinction, permitting courts to grant nonadjudication to CDL holders meeting the same criteria as other drivers. This change directly affects commercial drivers with first-time DUIs unrelated to their commercial work.
HB 1606 creates Mississippi's "Excellence for All Pilot Program" to test evidence-based school staffing models in public school districts. It requires the Mississippi Department of Education to establish a voluntary pilot program for school districts to implement staffing redesigns featuring teacher-led teams, sustainable pay structures for educators, strategic scheduling, and targeted instructional support for students. The program specifically aims to improve student learning outcomes, boost educator retention and recruitment, and create financially sustainable models, with priority given to districts serving low-income, rural, or historically underserved communities. Participating districts must use proven approaches that extend high-quality teaching to all students while collecting data for annual evaluations.
HB 1042 allows sheriffs and deputies in all Mississippi counties to use radar speed detection equipment in designated work zones (construction or maintenance areas marked with warning signs) and school zones (roadways near schools during related activities). This changes existing law by explicitly authorizing county law enforcement for these specific locations, where radar use was previously restricted. The bill defines "work zone" as marked construction areas and "school zone" as segments near school buildings or activities. It does not affect existing restrictions on radar use elsewhere or create new zones.
HB 1589 amends Mississippi law to prohibit teachers found guilty of sexual relations with students from resigning and instead mandates their termination. The bill specifically adds that if a school board finds an employee responsible for such misconduct, the employee must be terminated and cannot resign to avoid this outcome. This change applies within the existing disciplinary hearing process outlined in Section 37-9-111, where the school board reviews evidence and issues a final decision. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and directly affects teachers in Mississippi public schools who face termination for this specific violation.
SB 2558 updates Mississippi's campaign finance laws to increase transparency and restrict contributions. It requires candidates and political committees to file a "Statement of Organization" before accepting donations, mandates online public access to all campaign finance reports, and prohibits foreign nationals from contributing to state/local elections. The bill limits corporate political contributions to $1,000 annually and bans using campaign funds for personal expenses or civil penalties. Violations could trigger administrative fines, legal action by the Attorney General, or criminal penalties for foreign contribution violations. These changes directly affect candidates, political committees, corporations, and anyone involved in Mississippi's state and local election funding.
This bill reorganizes three existing Mississippi laws (sections 21-1-59, 27-31-1, and 57-75-5 of the Mississippi Code) to make them easier to locate and reference, without changing their substance. It brings forward provisions about municipal boundary changes affecting state institutions and school districts, and tax exemptions for cemeteries, government property, and religious entities. The bill does not create new policies or requirements but consolidates existing legal language. This is a procedural update for legislative clarity, not a substantive policy change.
HB 622 allows Mississippi's transportation department, local governments, or municipalities to partner with private companies to fund highway, road, or bridge improvements in exchange for naming rights to those specific sections. It prohibits partnerships with companies selling products illegal for minors (like certain tobacco or alcohol) and requires all private funding to be deposited into a dedicated state fund. This fund must be used exclusively for capital improvements to rest areas, visitor centers, and welcome centers statewide, with unspent funds carrying over annually instead of lapsing. The bill creates a clear mechanism for leveraging private investment in transportation infrastructure while restricting partnerships based on product safety standards.
SB 2618 allows Mississippi airport authorities, municipalities, and other government entities that own or operate airports to contract directly with private companies for financing, building, operating, or maintaining airport facilities - similar to how toll roads are handled. This bypasses standard public bidding requirements for these specific airport projects, as outlined in the amended Section 31-7-13. The bill explicitly states this is an additional option for airport development, not replacing existing laws. It directly affects local governments and airport operators seeking private partnerships for infrastructure without competitive bidding.
HB 1292 requires all Mississippi public school board members to serve four-year terms and be elected in either statewide general elections (starting November 2027) or presidential elections (starting November 2028), giving each school district the choice of election cycle. It directly affects all county, municipal, and special school districts by replacing current election methods with standardized four-year terms and flexible election timing. Key provisions include allowing districts to choose between single-member districts or at-large elections, standardizing nomination petition requirements, and establishing procedures for filling vacancies. The bill updates election rules for all school boards under the State Board of Education's jurisdiction, excluding charter school boards.
SB 2371 moves Mississippi's child care facility licensing oversight from the Department of Health to the Department of Human Services. It requires the new agency to follow the same fee guidelines as the previous department and submit a report to the legislature by October 2026 if additional staff or resources are needed for oversight. This change directly affects all child care facilities licensed under state law, as the agency responsible for enforcement will now be Human Services. The bill also updates legal references to remove licensing duties from the Department of Health's responsibilities and add them to Human Services' mandate.
HB 1676 adds a $3,000,000 allocation from the Capital Expense Fund to the 2024 Local Improvements Projects Fund for the Port of Pascagoula's North Rail Connector Project. This bill specifically directs funds to support infrastructure improvements across 20+ Mississippi jurisdictions, including city street paving, courthouse repairs, fire department equipment, hospital facilities, and airport upgrades. The funds will be disbursed by the Department of Finance and Administration per existing appropriation authority. Direct beneficiaries include cities like Columbus, Greenwood, and Kosciusko; counties including Bolivar, Lee, and Webster; and entities like the Port of Pascagoula and local fire departments. The bill does not create new programs but allocates existing state funds to pre-identified local projects.
