HB 183 would allow Mississippi school districts with low accountability ratings (D or F) to create summer programs for rising 10th graders (students who completed 9th grade). The program must include three required parts: soft skills training (like teamwork and time management), personal living skills (covering job applications and budgeting), and academic planning for college or careers. Students who complete the program would receive a certificate, and districts may offer stipends if funding is available. The bill allocates $2 million for this initiative, requiring districts to collaborate with local communities or junior colleges to design the programs.
HB 35 creates a 3-year pilot program in Sunflower and Jones counties to provide cash assistance to pregnant women facing acute economic hardship during pregnancy and for 12 months after birth. It offers $1,500 in prenatal payments (in three $500 installments) and $500 monthly for the infant’s first year, funded through a mix of public (using TANF for Medicaid-covered cases) and private sources. The program ensures these payments are excluded from income calculations for other benefits like Medicaid or SNAP, and requires the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) to track health outcomes - including prenatal care rates, preterm births, and NICU admissions - over the pilot period. This is a targeted economic support initiative, not a broad policy change.
Mississippi House Concurrent Resolution 4 (HC 4) proposes amending the state constitution to bar individuals convicted of any felony from voting. Currently, Mississippi law excludes voters convicted of specific felonies like murder or rape, but this amendment would extend the restriction to all felony convictions. The change would remove voting eligibility for anyone with a felony conviction, regardless of the crime's nature or sentence. The resolution died in committee in February 2026 and never advanced to a vote by voters.
HB 5 would have exempted end-stage renal disease (ESRD) facilities, including freestanding dialysis centers, from Mississippi's certificate of need (CON) law. This would have directly affected dialysis providers by removing the requirement to obtain state approval before building, expanding, or making major capital investments. The key mechanism was amending Section 41-7-173 to remove ESRD facilities from the definition of "health care facility" subject to CON review. The bill aimed to streamline operations for these facilities by eliminating a state oversight process for their expansions or new construction. (Note: The bill died in committee on 2026-02-03 and did not become law.)
HB 31 would allow permanently disabled residents of nursing homes or assisted living facilities in Mississippi to receive a free, permanent state identification card. The card would not expire and would display the facility's address as the holder's residence. To qualify, individuals must provide proof of permanent disability and facility residency, and the exemption ends if they move out. This changes existing law by removing standard fees and renewal requirements for this specific group.
HB 178 would redirect unspent Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds from the previous fiscal year to cover education costs for individuals enrolled in nursing education programs as part of workforce training. It would also pay for child care expenses for these individuals while they are studying. The bill applies specifically to TANF recipients pursuing nursing education, using existing unspent funds rather than new appropriations. This policy change aims to support workforce development in nursing by reducing financial barriers for participants.
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment limiting signatures for Mississippi's initiative petitions. It would prevent any single congressional district from contributing more than 1/(total congressional districts) of the required signatures - meaning if Mississippi has 4 districts, no one district could provide over 25% of the total signatures needed. This directly affects citizens and groups gathering signatures to place constitutional amendments on ballots. The change aims to ensure broader geographic support for initiatives by preventing dominance from a single district's signatures.
HB 81 would extend the hours for in-person absentee voting by requiring Mississippi registrar offices to remain open until 5:00 p.m. on the two Saturdays immediately before each election. This change directly affects voters who choose to cast absentee ballots in person at their county registrar's office, rather than by mail. The bill amends existing law to standardize the closing time for these in-person absentee voting sessions across all election types. It does not alter mail-in ballot rules or deadlines for absentee ballots received by mail.
HB 94, the Youth and Community Safety Act, requires Mississippi schools to report unlawful incidents (like fights or drug use) to districts, which must submit quarterly reports to the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) starting in 2026. The MDE would then publish annual public reports showing student referrals to juvenile justice, broken down by race and ethnicity, and develop training for schools on reducing arrests through alternatives like restorative practices. The bill also mandates MDE to create strategies for schools, law enforcement, and communities to collaborate on preventing youth involvement in the justice system. However, the bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.
HB 149 requires Mississippi's state workforce board and occupational licensing boards to accept military education, training, or service as equivalent to civilian requirements for professional licenses in multiple licensed professions (like nursing, engineering, and cosmetology). It directly affects veterans and military members transitioning to civilian careers by allowing them to use evidence of their military experience to meet licensing criteria. The bill mandates that applicants provide proof of military service completion, and boards must expedite licenses for active-duty personnel. It also requires public colleges and universities to develop policies for accepting military-acquired academic credits. The legislation applies to all 32 licensed occupations listed in the bill's Section 2.
HB 175 authorizes Mississippi counties and municipalities to create summer youth work programs that connect high school students (ages 16-19) with community-based jobs. Local governments must compile and share a detailed list of available positions - such as park maintenance, youth programs, or nonprofit roles - with schools and online by March 1 each year, including job duties, hours, minimum wage pay, and safety requirements. Eligible students must not have graduated, have serious criminal charges (excluding minor traffic violations), and programs must prioritize applicants from financially needy households if demand exceeds available positions. The bill allows local governments to use public or private funding to cover program administration and student wages, while requiring parental consent and liability waivers for participants. Its goal is to provide meaningful summer employment that reduces idle time and supports youth development in local communities.
HB 41 would remove intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities from Mississippi's Certificate of Need (CON) law. This means these facilities would no longer require state approval before making major expansions, renovations, or purchasing expensive equipment (like capital expenditures over $5 million for clinical services). The bill specifically targets the legal definition of "health care facility" in Mississippi law, excluding these facilities from CON review requirements. This change would directly affect providers of intermediate care services for people with intellectual disabilities by reducing regulatory hurdles for facility improvements.
